Can you be compassionate, understanding, helpful and humble if you think you are deserving of things?

Question

True. When one thinks they are humble, they are not.

Namaste

Peace and Love

Answer 1

We are all worms, but I do believe I am a glowworm. ~Winston Churchill

Answer 2

Yes, you can be. However, for most people, it is incredibly difficult. When most people say they are humble, they are not. However, it can happen with a few people that they are humble and simply state this as a fact. Be careful of the meaning of the word humble though. It means to avoid arrogance and boastfulness. It does not mean to be self-deprecating or to live in self-denial.

Someone who works really hard at a job and is better at it than everyone else can know they are deserving of promotion without thinking they are better than anyone else and without being boastful about it if they get that job. They can even be proud of it. That is fine as long as that pride is the good kind.

Answer 3

You know the idea of humility has been greatly abused! In my opinion, it has and still is used to maintain control over people who have something to gain by that influence.

Humility is not the same as humiliation. Does your idea of humility imply having no self-esteme?

Self esteme is a healthy thing. It is not a barrior, it is a doorway. It is balanced. Balance gives a person a broader range to work in towards understanding and wisdom! Balance is a circle. It is inclusive and discerning. Balance is self-esteme and an honest open way of walking. It is not allowing oneself to be a doormatt.

How can you really experience compassion if you cannot feel empathy?How can you be empathetic if you have no reference points because, you are so low yourself that nothing matters? "I am a doormat." All that does is reinforse people who use door matts. They get all fueled up with the whole process!!!!!!!!That is not productive.

Ah...the self? How can you truly love others if you do not love yourself?You have to start with a point of reference. 'You' the 'I', is not without a productive purpose.

So, is humility balanced? I suppose it depends on how you define humility and why you are using the word to get to something. Humility that works in conjunction with self-esteme means that while you 'appreciate' your precious human life, you keep it in context with the 'whole'. My take on humility is balance. But, that is not how it is commonly used. So lets compare.

Arrogance implies that something is out of proportion rather than balanced. Arrogance is not grounded. It is destructive and closed. Arrogance is colonial, it is the invader, it is blind to the worth of others. It has no insight nor does it want to see. Arrogance is pressumptious, it judges and is quick to judge.
Arrogance can be singular and it can be an ugly mob.

What do we deserve? Can we define the word deserving and observe how we are using it?Everyone is deserving in some sense. If you believe you are deserving of fundimental human rights...I would respond with YES, and no that is not arrogant or a barrier to enlightenment! it is a decission based on compassion and empathy. It is a wise stance.

Many of these teachings developed in societies that were dominator, patriarcheal and not socially conscious! Think about who these teachers were talking to and give their words a more acurate context. Wholistic thinking is entirely different and cultivates wisdom to a far greater end.

In terms of the usage of deserving as in a person has earned something. Well? Fine. If they earned it and assume, being without balance, empathy or compassion, if they think that their 'deserving' means it is alright for others to suffer, that others should bow down to them and so on...well that is just arrogant isn't it?

It is very true, that some people, especially people involved with spirituality and religion, wear an 'idea' of humility like a garment. It is a mask. They look for what they believe people will accept as 'signs' of humility! They want to 'appear' humble and they want acknowledgement for it and to be elevated in the eyes of others by doing this. They are spiritual/religious 'players' and they cause much pain.

THESE PEOPLE HINDER GREATLY, THE SPIRITUAL EVOLUTION OF HUMANITY.

;-0
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Peace and awareness.

Jamie

Answer 4

Here is my definition of humble:

To see yourself as God sees you.

Think about it - He sees us as absolutely the most valuable things in the entire universe; His greatest creations. But at the same time, we are the most arrogant, foolish and self-worshiping of all His creations.

In my opinion, to be humble is to acknowledge our total dependence on God for everything, including the ground we walk on and the air that we breathe. Then we need to express gratitude for all those things, and promise Him to use whatever good things have come into our lives, in the way that He wants us to. When we do this, then He is delighted to give us good things.

I don't know if we ever really deserve good things, but I am grateful for all that God has done for me.

Answer 5

As usual, your questions are sharp as knives.

Can a man be humble,or can only an act?

Isn't humility achieved only through self awareness, which is only achieved through a balance of ignorance and knowledge?

In humility I always stumble.

Answer 6

A humble person does not think of them self as deserving. They think of them self as being.

Answer 7

No, If you think that you are deserving of certian things, the opposite happens: You get a big head.

Answer 8

If the thing you believe you deserve is to be free of suffering, then yes.

Namaste, much metta, peace and abundant joy.

Answer 9

if I cant see myself as deserving
how can I see others as deserving
compassion starts with empathy
we cant be empathic without knowing , understanding and loving ourself first
only then can we truely know and understand others
but in the same respect , understanding others serves as a way to understand our self even more

humble is a strange word with many limitations
however , I dont have any needs in my life
this does not mean I am not deserving
it just means I dont need

Answer 10

compassionate, understanding, helpful = others-centered
deserving of things=self-centered

Answer 11

I don't believe so. As for someone saying they are deserving of thing you get what you work for not just because.
The person you are terrible is these things but wants they counteract each other.