“Without humility, all is lost.” (St. Teresa of Avila)

Humility is simply coming to knowledge of who you are and who you are not, then accepting that self-knowledge, and remembering it. Humble people have a keen inner sense that life is a short, sweet, gift at the end of which we all return to the dust. This simple fact of our mortality doesn’t worry the humble, rather it makes them lean all the more into being fully present to whoever and whatever is right in front of them. 

St. Teresa of Avila said that on the spiritual journey there is nothing more important than humility. She learned that from Jesus. He was always telling his friends to take the lower place and to not worry about coming off as fancy and sophisticated. Teresa also said that you’ll know that you’ve been given the gift of humility when you’re more pleased by hearing your neighbor praised and complemented than you are hearing the same about yourself.  

Humble people are curious and interested in what makes you tick. Not because they want to get one over on you but because they sincerely love you even when there’s nothing in it for them. Isn’t that something?