Gracious Humility~ is it possible?
Trying to stay in a place of integrity and strong leadership isn’t always easy, especially when we aren’t seeing it modeled for us on a larger scale. No matter, it is our job, yours, if you are reading this, to find ways (self-motivation and self-regulation) to stay in your personal integrity and humanity. Lots of responses on these Shine Reports, people sharing what floats their boats and what sinks them. As a leader, you are the one with the life raft, you are the one with the emergency procedures, with the task of keeping the crew from mutinying.
Bring in the amazing presence of gracious humility and somehow things aren’t as difficult. Even just saying the words brings a calmness and safeness. It isn’t self-effacing humility, but gracious, which means a person is wise enough to know that we all err. That our human limitations are part of our story, and not only that, our human limitations are the ways we can grow. They provide the necessary challenges that help us succeed. But if it were easy, if we got it first time around, it wouldn’t be much of a challenge.
Gracious humility is a way of accepting what is with a calm wisdom that allows others to feel human, to be honest, to be transparent, to feel accepted just the way they are. It doesn’t mean you won’t continue to strive for your personal excellence, but it means that when you trip and stumble, fall short of your goal, you offer yourself grace and your ego doesn’t feel the need to cover it up, blame, shame or guilt yourself or others.
It is a beautiful way to experience being human, and it is a wonderful attribute for leaders. Thank you for being part of the solution in this turbulent year for our country.
Please continue to share what keeps you from Shining! We would all love to share and support you and help shoulder the burden of being a leader!
