Humility

There are so many great sayings about humility, this one by C.S. Lewis “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less”

However nothing teaches more about humility then horses. You see horses are 1000lb animals that can be completely sane one minute and a bunking bronco the next.  I learned this lesson the hard way yesterday when my bucked me off because ….. well if we figure out why I’d be a millionaire.

Humility in leaders is a tough thing.  You see, we are leaders because of our confidence. We often just KNOW what is the right thing to do and trying to explain that to others is difficult.  Horseback riding has taught me that there is nothing more humbling than riding.

When I fell yesterday, (after my trainer asked if she should call 911) helped me up.  Then another owner in the barn said “nothing teaches more about humility than riding”.

As leaders we must practice humility we must learn that we don’t always have the answers and that sometimes life teaches us that the hard way.  Showing humility does not make us weak, it actually makes us strong.  Of course in the moment, that is a really hard lesson to learn.

As I sat on the ground yesterday I could feel the tears welling up not because I was hurt but because I was embarrassed.  You see I haven’t been riding that long and this is something that only happens to newbies.  I don’t want to be a newbie, I want to be an experienced rider. However, falling happens to EVERYONE!  My trainer who has been riding since before she could walk fell off a horse in May!

This week practice humility think about how you can learn from those around you, and while you might have all the answers sometimes you have take a step back and realize that maybe you aren’t always right!  (Even if you know you are!!)

Then when life teaches you humility you have to get back on!  For me that will mean going to the barn today and literally getting on the horse.  I may not go very far or even walk at all! However I am going to go and see my horse and learn that humility makes me a better person!!