Hear your Father, your King, the Creator and Sustainer of the entire universe, saying to you:

Live with humility.

Humility is freedom. It frees you from complaints, demands and expectations that are at the root of much resentment and distress.

Arrogance, the opposite of humility, comes from blindness. The only way you can be arrogant is to be unaware of your limitations, faults, shortcomings, and mistakes.

Viewing yourself from the perspective of the entire universe, you will find it impossible to be arrogant. How can a tiny human being with such negligible power be arrogant when there is so much he doesn't know and can't do? How can any mortal be arrogant when he reflects on the meaning of eternity?

When you realize that all that you have is a gift, you will be humble. Feel fortunate for the gifts that I have given you, but realize that they are gifts.

With humility, you will appreciate what you have. You realize that nothing is owed to you and therefore you feel grateful for all that you do have. Humility frees you from envy. When you master humility, you will live a more joyous life.

With humility, you will be freed from seeking honor and approval. This will save you much emotional unrest.

With humility, you will be increasingly able to tolerate the slights and insults of others. You won't have to swallow them; they will simply bother you less and less.

With humility, you will be open to show honor and respect to other people both in speech and behavior. This will enhance your relationships with others. Lack of humility causes anger and breeds quarrels. Humility creates serenity and tranquility.

With humility, you will find it easier to forgive others more readily.

With humility, you will be able to admit your mistakes. Humility enables you to view criticism more objectively. Without humility, you will do all you can to appear perfect.

With humility, you will be able to cope with adversity with greater equanimity.

With humility, you will have a better relationship with your loving Father and powerful King.

NOTES

Humility is the awareness that all you have is a gift. If someone were to distribute substantial monetary gifts without anyone having to do anything to deserve them, there would obviously be no reason to become arrogant and conceited on account of having received some of the bounty. For this reason, the Talmud (Sotah 4b) equates arrogance with a denial of God.

In what ways do you speak or act in a manner that is inconsistent with humility? To answer, think about what you would consider a lack of humility in someone else.

Who is your model of a person who has both self-respect and humility? In what ways could you emulate that person?

One aspect of humility is to realize that all humans are fallible. We make mistakes. Yet many of us find it difficult to say: "I was wrong." Practice saying it.

(Sources: Talmud - Avot 4:4, 4:10, 5:19, and ch. 6; "Duties of the Heart," "Path of the Just," "Ways of the Righteous)