How can we prevent our heads from getting swollen due to pride and arrogance? How can we disassociate ourselves from the so-called "greatness" syndrome? How can we control our obsession to be always number one and be happy to play second fiddle? How can we make ourselves believe that the "mighty pedestal" built on conceit and egotism can crumble anytime? Here’s how one great president did it. The late US President Theodore Roosevelt usually took a walk at night with a friend and explored the vastness of the darkened universe. President Roosevelt would then break the silence of the night and say: "Now, I think we are small enough. Let’s call it a night."

Many of us are familiar with the story of the great African-American educator Booker T. Washington which highlights his humble spirit. The story goes this way:-

"One day as Professor Washington was walking to work at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, he happened to pass the mansion of a wealthy woman.

"The woman, who did not recognize him, called out, "Hey you! Come here! I need some wood chopped!" She was a product of her culture and simply perceived him as a black man who was there to do her bidding.

"Without a word, Dr. Washington peeled off his jacket, picked up the ax and went to work. He not only cut a large pile of wood, he also carried the firewood into the house and arranged it neatly.

"He had scarcely left when a servant said to the woman, "I guess you didn’t recognize him, ma’am, but that was Professor Washington!"

"Embarrassed and ashamed, the woman hurried over to Tuskegee Institute to apologize. The great educator humbly replied: "There’s no need to apologize, madam. I’m delighted to do favors for my friends!" (Found in S. Goodier’s book titled Prescription for Peace)

Here is another old interesting story about humility:-

"Two mountain goats met each other on a narrow ledge just wide enough for one of the animals. On the left was a sheer cliff, and on the right a deep lake. The two face each other. What should they do? They could not back up – that would be too dangerous; they could not turn around, because the ledge was too narrow. Now if the goats had no more sense than some people, they would meet head-on and start butting each other till they fell into the lake below. Luther said that goats have better sense than this. One lay down on the trail and let the other literally walk over him – and both were safe." (Found in the book titled The Speaker’s Quote Book. This story is credited to Martin Luther)

I am sure many of us – at one time or another met a braggart (in our local Tagalog language braggart means a person who is "mayabang" or "mahangin" or "mahambog").

Can we fake humility? Can we counterfeit humility? Many of us especially the powerful, the rich and the famous try to counterfeit humility. But they fail. It is indeed very difficult to counterfeit humility. Our body language and our words, say it all.

The manner in which a person talks; the way he persists on his opinions despite the fact that what he is saying is senseless and baseless; the way he pontificates his arguments as if he is an authority on the subject despite the fact that he lacks the information of what he is talking about – gives him away. People who think they know it all are especially annoying. To many of us, the first test of a truly great man is his humility.

Humility is a very rare trait of many. Let’s just remember what someone once said that: "When you put yourself on a mighty pedestal and elevate yourself above the rest of the world, just keep in mind that the size of your funeral is going to depend a lot on the weather. "

Have a joyful day!