Humility is the Root of Mindfulness

This week we are focusing on another of the 5 Strengths: Mindfulness.  Mindfulness is both the conscious living in the present moment, and the clear awareness of things as they are.  We chose to develop our mindfulness by focusing on the soul trait of Humility.

Humility is not what we think it is.  Humility is one of the middle points between arrogance and self-effacement.  The other middle point is Pride.  While I know I really need to work on developing some Pride, this week is about humility.

Humility is occupying the space you are suppose to occupy.  A student is humble when they submit to the instruction of their teacher.  A teacher is humble when they take the lead and guide their students.

This quality depends on our circumstances and even our environment.  We must be mindful not to take up too much space or shrink from the space we should fill.

This has been a core problem of mine for a long time.  My issues with self-esteem have cause me to shrink into myself and not to take my proper role in many aspects of my life.  From my spiritual practice to my business, from my personal relationships to how I take care of myself. 

What is most interesting is that the more I shrank away from the role I should play in my own life and the lives of others, I have grown fatter and more out of shape.  It is like I compensated for my lack of proper space by taking up more physical space.

In my own life, I need to speak up when I need to, and take the actions I should take.  Discerning those places will not be easy, but it something I need to do.

Are you taking up the space you should take in your own life?  If you are not taking up enough, how will you expand yourself to take your proper space?  If you take up too much space, how will you reign in your ego to fit the space you have broken out of?