Think of a time when you’ve been humbled. How did it feel? Was there a sense of losing your place in the world? Your stature diminished? Did it make you feel somehow vulnerable, and suddenly less picky about who you might associate with — because at that moment any company was good company?
The root of the word humble is hummus. It means ground. Being humbled is being grounded. It’s a closer experience of our true self. Neither less than nor better than anyone else.
Being humble is one of the primary conditions for having a productive “difficult conversation.” It allows us to listen better, to be more open.
How do we nurture humility? One way, say the experts, is to cultivate experiences of awe and wonder. Such experiences tend to reduce the unpleasant mind-chatter of self preoccupation, while expanding our sense of connectedness.
Another way is to embrace our own humanity. When you start to harshly judge another’s attitudes or behaviors, ask yourself: “How am I like you?” If asked sincerely, the answer will quickly bring you back down to earth.