While a positive self image is important, humility is important too. It keeps us grounded and centered. Humility gives us a realistic perspective of ourselves and lets us appreciate the good in others as well. It reminds us that we are not perfect and not infallible and that we don’t know everything. In fact humility is the very thing we need to recognize our limitations; so that we can strive to do better and improve ourselves. It is only when we have cultivated some humility that we become flexible enough to become receptive to change and to new ideas.
Learning humility from nature
It is easy to be humbled by nature – all you have to do is acknowledge the might of nature. On a stormy night, listen to the howling of the wind, watch the rain as it lashes at everything around and see how the storm bends mighty trees to its will, churning up the sea and flattening everything in its path. See how devastating an earthquake can be. When you view this wrath of nature, this destructive force, it is easy to feel powerless and insignificant – and yes… humble!
But nature will humble us even on a calm, perfectly serene day. The benevolence of a mighty, shady tree that is home to countless birds and other little creatures, which selflessly offers its resources up for anyone who wishes to utilize them, is to be humbled by true generosity. To watch the waves of the ocean beat tirelessly upon the shore is to be awed by the unceasing energy and the unwavering rhythms of the universe. As we see a beautiful sunset, we are simply captivated by the incredibly beautiful world that we live in. When we pay attention to these inspiring aspects of nature, we find ourselves very diminutive and insignificant by comparison. It is humbling in the extreme and it is this humility that fills us with joy!
How the yogi can embrace humility
As I said earlier, humility is important so that we recognize our own limitations and faults. As a yogi, you need not try and attempt aasans that are beyond your ability. Don’t try them just because someone else in class can perform them. Here, humility will teach you that not all of us have the same abilities; nor do all of us make progress at the same rate.
Say for instance you’re looking for a yoga class in Mumbai, you may want to ask yourself which is the class that is best for your abilities, your age and level of fitness rather than try and enroll at a yoga class simply because it was trendy or because a friend was already enrolled there. While it is important to find a yoga class close to you, it is perhaps even more important to look for a class that offers you holistic training that is appropriate for your level of fitness and your abilities.
So in conclusion, remember that humility is important for each of us… as yogis, as professionals, as homemakers, as human beings; so that we accept that which we cannot change; and improve upon that which we can!