Humility in a prideful world

[Christphr]

To live in the modern world is highly competitive, since more and more money is required to have what’s considered a “normal life”, which, let’s face it, is a normal life by the world’s standards, but not by what is demanded by the Catholic faith.

Is it even possible to lead a humble life at all now? What are specific habits or practices are helpful to humility in the face of all this?

 

[fhansen]

To live in the modern world is highly competitive, since more and more money is required to have what’s considered a “normal life”, which, let’s face it, is a normal life by the world’s standards, but not by what is demanded by the Catholic faith.

Is it even possible to lead a humble life at all now? What are specific habits or practices are helpful to humility in the face of all this?

Just don’t let pride be your master; don’t let it set your standards. This is not an easy task, in any era, since pride does, indeed, rule fallen man. It’s the main sin that we battle against. So pray for humility and wisdom and the ability to resist the temptations that pride tends to lead us into.

Let God be God and yourself be the creature; the more conscious we are of His existence and rightful authority the more balanced we become, even as the world increasingly identifies believers as crazy. But wear that faith, then, as a badge of honor, as a device to alienate yourself from the world and its devotion to self. It’s a battle. It’s the battle, in fact, between faith in God and rejection of Him.

 

[Irishmom2]

I would say to limit social media if someone is influenced by what they see as being the new normal there. As fhansen said, you must set your own standards, based on your faith, not conform to the world’s standards.

 

[edwest]

The world’s standards are quite low in some places. Hedonism, along with “No one can tell me what to do.” results in tribalism. Social fragmentation is not good. Find things that are good and Godly.

God bless

 

[Dan_Defender]

To be humble is to suffer in silence when others accuse/criticize you. This is against what the world teaches. But God rewards the humble.

 

[Lee1]

I think where you live can also have a big impact on how you live. Living in the country is a lot different to living in a city. This may be part of a bigger plan which might involve moving to a place more likely to facilitate peaceful living and perhaps livng a more humble life. I’m not suggesting joining a monastery or community though there’s nothing wrong with those things, just simplifying your existence and living in an environment more conducive to spiritual development.

If you can’t or won’t leave a city then of course it’s still possible to achieve your goals. All we need do is to reject peer pressure and ignore materialistic social norms and strive to be faithful to our religion and God. Humility is after all an attitude which we can develop anywhere, just as we can serve God wherever we find ourselves.

 

[Nelka]

I lacked humility at work today.

 

[edwest]

It can happen from time to time, but we must, with God’s help, try to do better.

 

[Lee1]

Prayers for you Nelka. As edwest says tomorrow is another day and today is past already.
Tomorrow we can carry our crosses again and climb higher up the hill to keep Our Lord company.

 

[toddy]

I would say to limit social media if someone is influenced by what they see as being the new normal there. As fhansen said, you must set your own standards, based on your faith, not conform to the world’s standards.

The world’s standards are quite low in some places. Hedonism, along with “No one can tell me what to do.” results in tribalism. Social fragmentation is not good. Find things that are good and Godly.

All we need do is to reject peer pressure and ignore materialistic social norms and strive to be faithful to our religion and God

Maximum of pride is the world that men is no longer human.
They just fabricate “wants” and defend that is the ultimate goals of civilized life, but it is out law in the universe of God and non existence to our spiritual life. Even extreme Amish life is far beyond tribalism.

Many are mislead not to live by the Spirit but by the dependence on money power for needs and wants. Demand of “Wants” maybe lead to pride, but not the demand of needs.

 

[TenEleven]

What are some “specific habits or practices” that might be helpful in your goal of humility? Turn the TV off for good. Live within your means and buy used items whenever possible and practical. Mind your own business. Become a listener; when you’re with others, let them talk instead of talking about yourself. Eat simply and healthfully. Volunteer at church and take the invisible jobs no-one else wants instead of taking the jobs everyone will see you doing. Donate money to the church electronically so that you don’t get the satisfaction of thinking that people will see you put an envelope into the basket each week.

 

[Annie]

Writing one’s resume is especially difficult. I have to get a lot of (name removed by moderator)ut from other people to do this

 

[Lara]

changed mind

 

[Calliope]

In addiction recovery I was taught that humility is radical honesty. Meaning that you be completely honest, at all times about who you are and what your capabilities are, neither puffing them up or putting them down.

This is about being honest with yourself and others, so no padding the resume, or lying about knowing html if you don’t, but also not acting faux humble when you get a compliment or saying you can’t bake to avoid the bake sale. If you don’t want to tell them you’re not interested in participating and leave it at that.

In this way you build real and appropriate confidence, while not having to lie to save face or remember white lies etc. It relieves a ton of stress from your life and spirit.

Also, it allows you to be honest in your spiritual life, to determine if something is truly a temptation you should avoid. No saying…but I SHOULD feel/think/act in such and such a way and try to live based on that. Rather be honest about your strengths and weaknesses and adjust your behavior accordingly to the truth, not to what society or peers think you should do or how you should feel. This allows real growth.

It feels strange at first, awkward and I felt silly sometimes saying the truth rather than what I was used to doing…protecting an image of myself. It was so odd to say “I don’t know” rather than pretend I did and tell myself I’d google it later. But it’s turned out to be great. I accept compliments with a thank you rather than false humility. And I say thank you more often because I feel real gratitude where before I felt fear and inadequacy.