“Is suffering really necessary? Yes and no. If you had not suffered as you have, there would be no depth to you as a human being, no humility, no compassion. You would not be reading this now. Suffering cracks open the shell of ego, and then comes a point when it has served its purpose. Suffering is necessary until you realize it is unnecessary. ”
—Eckhart Tolle
St. Josemaria’s 17 Signs of a Lack of Humility
- 1: Thinking that what you do or say is better than what others do or say
- 2: Always wanting to get your own way
- 3: Arguing when you are not right or — when you are — insisting stubbornly or with bad manners
- 4: Giving your opinion without being asked for it, when charity does not demand you to do so
- 5: Despising the point of view of others
- 6: Not being aware that all the gifts and qualities you have are on loan
- 7: Not acknowledging that you are unworthy of all honour or esteem, even the ground you are treading on or the things you own
- 8: Mentioning yourself as an example in conversation
- 9: Speaking badly about yourself, so that they may form a good opinion of you, or contradict you
- 10: Making excuses when rebuked
- 11: Hiding some humiliating faults from your director, so that he may not lose the good opinion he has of you
- 12: Hearing praise with satisfaction, or being glad that others have spoken well of you
- 13: Being hurt that others are held in greater esteem than you
- 14: Refusing to carry out menial tasks
- 15: Seeking or wanting to be singled out
- 16: Letting drop words of self-praise in conversation, or words that might show your honesty, your wit or skill, your professional prestige…
- 17: Being ashamed of not having certain possessions
