Embracing humility in a world where “image” is everything

Submitted by Everline Jeruto, OSB (she/her),
Benedictine Women of Madison
Reprinted from Oblate News

In today’s world, everything is dominated by screens with images of people’s lives that have been carefully planned, from the posed photographs posted on Instagram to the rehearsed dance moves on TikTok. In the era of images, personal branding is the trend, and people have a habit of showing a perfect life. With so much comparison and the need to appear perfect, humility is a rare thing but a basic quality that can keep us from being lost in a shallow world. And it keeps us from believing that the image we project is who we really are.

While scrolling through our feeds, we compare our flaws with others perfectly posed pictures. We see flawless faces, perfect holidays, dream jobs and perfect families creating a cycle of self-approval. We feel obliged to keep up a “personal brand” that demands us to constantly seek public approval. In this situation, humility may appear as a disadvantage or a loss. Still, humility can instead become an assertive power to be lived out in this competitive culture.

The words of Benedict, which were composed more than 1,500 years ago, offer insights into the significance of humility. Benedict recognized the inclination in human beings towards pride and arrogance. His Rule highlights humility as a way to get true power and peace without cutting oneself off from the world. In his guidance for humility, he not only called for self-reflection and growth but also suggested the relinquishing of the ego as a result of personal freedom.

To be humble is to recognize our position in the world. To understand that our achievements are very likely supported by and/or contributed to by other individuals; and that our failures can also be fruitful in our own growth and development. This recognition helps us to motivate ourselves to stay open to learning, and to also offer up our thoughts for feedback. Humility should be regarded as one of the most valuable attributes to possess. It allows us to really be able to listen to other people and honor the various histories and perspectives of each person. When we understand the worth of the human being next to us, we bring improvement not only to ourselves but to our community and to how we understand one another and show each other compassion. When we exhibit humility together it allows us to connect and feel a sense of belonging to each other.

In a world where everything is judged by how it looks, humility is the answer. It allows us to give up the need for constant validation by others, and, instead, it creates a feeling of self-esteem that is based on our personality and our relationships. Consequently, it makes it easier for us to get the inner peace that comes from saying no to perfection and admitting our weaknesses, thereby making it possible for us to feel happy, not less, when others achieve.

In real life, cultivating humility in a visual culture takes several forms. It involves being aware of how the digital content we avail ourselves of is edited. It can also mean that we do not post certain parts of our lives so that we can have private moments. Recognizing the less glamorous aspects of life, such as learning and meditation, is also important, as they are the sources of true growth. Speaking genuinely in the form of questions and listening more attentively, rather than just waiting for our turn to speak, are also musts. Lastly, having humility in the image era is a form of quiet rebellion.

It is one way we go against the flow as we intentionally decide to give priority to depth rather than superficiality while at the same time focusing on quality rather than image only. We can thus create a sound self, which, although it is totally tuned to life’s complexities, still gives us integrity and tranquility. True strength is not in what the world sees but in inward growth, connecting with the real and living intentionally during these times. Benedict’s Rule impels the mind to go inward, telling us in effect that truthfulness and power come from our being, no matter what others may think. To do nothing else but be without masks or recognition is a revolt against the supremacy of the extremely visual world.