Human Humility

 It's interesting to reflect on previous mistakes, in a way that doesn't make them seem awful or overpowering. As I reflected in my prior entry, it seems important to add a sense of nurturing to one's reflections, lest they become exercises in self-attack. This isn't to say that a person should exalt her or himself to the point of seeming to be 'all powerful' or omnipotent. It might be more accurate to describe self-nurturing as having the courage to highlight one's mistakes while not shying away from their impact.
   I am not sure what Eastern cultures think about this idea of repentance, but it is certainly to me one of the hardest things to do, to embrace one's own weaknesses and still work to improve or overcome them. It seems to me that a person needs to have some degree of security in themselves to be able to handle criticism or previous mistakes without identifying oneself as 'someone who gets nothing right.' When the scale is tipped to the point of downing oneself for failing personal expectations, this is a sign to let go of taking the self as something that is enduring or even substantial. It's also a sign that things one has done wholesomely are being stowed away or discredited, and one can no longer have a clear awareness or perspective on their being and previous actions.
    If humility arises without going into despair, it can be a very good way to ground the mind and allow scattered thoughts to dissipate. This is perhaps because humility can slow a person's processes and allow them to think about what they can improve, rather than rushing from one task to another in a frantic way. Humility toward one's own previous actions and work can be a way to take stock of what has been done successfully and unsuccessfully, as well as to develop a future plan for improvement. But, in my opinion, none of this works when there is a strong grasping to self, because in those moments, the self perverts this natural movement into something resembling pity or blame.