[nandm]

Day 3

False Humility

"If you are reluctant to ask the way, you will be lost." Malay proverb

In the past, many of us developed techniques to escape the wrath of others. One convenient method was to take full blame for everything that happened in our past relationships, no matter how much blame may not have been ours.

We found this to be an excellent defense because, to a degree, it deflected the other person's anger, disappointment, or criticism. By presenting ourselves as defenselss and vulnerable, it made it almost impossible for others to persist in their accusations. Most people find it difficult to hit someone who's already down.

But Step Seven clearly instructs us to let go of all these phony postures and artifices. We do this by learning to operate on a level where we not only acknowledge all our weaknesses and liabilities, but also no longer plead false modesty in denying those strengths, talents, and assets with which we are endowed. We neither demean nor diminish our strengths, nor parade them ina boastful fashion. We do not deny our shortcomings or constantly draw attention to them. Our starting point is a realistic assessment of our current status.

Today's Step: A genuine and balanced humility is my strength.

Step by Step. Muriel ZInk