Once Mahatma Gandhi was travelling to Porbandar by train. There was a co-passenger who shared the coach with him. Much to Gandhiji’s surprise, all through the night the man occupied the entire seat, and even put his feet up on Gandhiji, and barely gave him enough space to sit upright.
The next day when they were about to reach their destination the man proudly told his co-passenger that he was visiting Porbandar to see Mahatma Gandhi. On hearing this Gandhiji chose to remain silent. When the train arrived at the station Mahatma Gandhi was greeted affectionately by thousands of his followers. The man fell at Gandhiji’s feet, and begged for his forgiveness. Gandhiji forgave the man and asked him to be respectful of others, irrespective of who they were.
Humility is an underrated value which is vastly misunderstood. There are many people who confuse humility with humiliation. The word humility comes from the latin word ‘humilitas’ which means to be ‘humble’ or ‘to be grounded’. Humility is paradoxically the virtue that lowers a person in terms of their own relationship with others, and the world in general. It is also a spiritual concept that acknowledges that an individual is only a small cog in the greater scheme of things.
Humility vs Confidence
It is unwise to be too sure of one’s own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err. ~ Mahatma Gandhi
This is the era that stresses upon the need for strong personalities and stronger confidence. Confidence refers to the act of being and behaving as if one is self-assured and better than others. Ironically, confidence in no way assures a high level of skill. In fact it may often interfere with one’s growth as a professional and as an individual. In the world that we live in, it usually brings along an air of skill and competence, which may or actually may not be present in the person.
A false sense of confidence stops a person from admitting to his or her shortcomings and lack of skills. One can also stop growing due to a false sense of supremacy that is built on the feeble ground of misplaced confidence. Humility, on the other hand, is a virtue that always keeps you grounded and helps you understand how vast the world is. It helps you see the best in others and gives you the opportunity to model yourself and learn from them.
Humility should not be confused with low self-esteem or self-confidence. It is simply being aware of one’s level of skill and the ability to appreciate the same in others and acknowledge it. In the long run, humility brings a sense of inner strength and gratitude which confidence cannot.
Confidence in Humility
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.
~ Ernest Hemingway
Humble confidence refers to the fact that one is confident in one’s skills and abilities due to the experiences that one has. This type of confidence doesn’t impose itself on others, but provides the individual a fairly practical perspective of one’s own strengths and potential.
(The writer is a social activist and former COO for the Uttarakhand Government 108 emergency services)