You are likely immersed in the gift-giving rhythm of Christmas, carefully thinking about everyone else on your list. But do not overlook the most important person on that list: you. There is no greater gift than choosing to invest in your own growth and giving yourself the tools to become the person you are meant to be. This is a gift no one else can give on your behalf. The responsibility (I call it an opportunity), rests entirely with you.
In my recent blogs, I have emphasized that self-awareness is the starting point of our journey toward discovering purpose. While this journey can feel arduous, its foundation is simple. We are more than our physical bodies; our hearts, minds, and souls shape our unique identities and temperaments. At the same time, we share something fundamental: a common origin, a common dignity, and a common destiny.
We were created for God, and as Saint Augustine reminds us, our hearts remain restless until they rest in Him. When we accept this truth with trust, it reshapes how we see ourselves and, as a result, how we see others. Our self-image deepens, not through comparison or superiority, but through recognition of shared worth. From this awareness, humility naturally emerges, because the search for meaning cannot be separated from recognizing others as bearing the same sacred origin and value.
In chapter 2, verse 7 the Book of Genesis tells us that God formed the human person from the dust of the ground and breathed life into him. The Hebrew word adamah means earth or ground, from which the first human, Adam, takes his name, signaling humanity’s origin in the soil itself.
This same theme appears in language beyond Scripture. The Latin word humus refers to rich, organic soil formed from the decomposition of plant life with microorganisms that sustain all living systems. From this word come humble and humility, as well as human and humanity. These shared roots point to a powerful truth: from the earliest texts and languages, humanity is understood to begin not in distinction or dominance, but in commonality and simplicity.
Within these origins lies a profound insight into who we are, what we share with one another, and what we are ultimately meant to become.
When properly understood and practiced, humility is not about constant self-criticism or self-effacement. Rather, it is a healthy and honest assessment of who we truly are. It invites us to examine our convictions, attitudes, and behaviors, asking whether we have allowed ourselves to become inflated beyond our true nature, or whether we have sincerely embraced our humble origins and our intended purpose.
There is one certainty that awaits us all: death. Remembering our shared beginning and our common end keeps us grounded in reality. When we deny these truths, we risk living in a distorted world of our own making. One that is disconnected from meaning and ultimately without lasting significance.
Once we reflect upon what we have in common, our perception of others and the world in which we live takes on actions and consequences that are not limited to our own selfish interests. This humble approach to our interaction within the world reduces our false sense of importance and elevates the value and significance of others. Humility if it is any virtue at all, it is the truthful self-appraisal that frees us from false conceptions about ourselves and the erroneous perception about those around us.
Being authentic about our status and value is a constant and straightforward endeavor, one that never exhausts itself in sincerity or rationale. Throughout our lives we are provided with understandings of our strengths and weaknesses, talents and insufficiencies from family and friends. They become our mirrors for self-knowledge, reflecting the good and the not-so-good. These very valuable assets that will enable us to see what we may be blind to within us.
We Are Worth So Much More Than We Think
As the celebration of Christmas nears, we are reminded of the profound message that is being sent by God to everyone, not just Christians. The value that we possess is not alone being created in the image and likeness of the Divine, but that God would become incarnate, flesh like us. He would be born, live and die amongst us. In doing so our human nature has been furthered by His own willingness to become one with us. One traditional carol expresses this sentiment so clearly.
In the song, “O Holy Night” one verse holds such promise.
“Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.’
Indeed, what value we must have for our God to humble Himself for our salvation. We are worth far more than we think we are.
Both Saint Athanasius and later, Saint Augustine wrote, this profound remark about the Incarnation, when the Son of God appeared, “God became man, so that man might become God.”
Removing the cataracts of prejudice and pride corrects our vision to distinguish the worth that is inherent within everyone. None of this can be accomplished until we are willing to embrace the humility of self-perception, until that time we will walk in darkness. Only the light of truthfulness will extinguish what prevents us from comprehending our true worth.
Traditionally, the New Year is an opportunity to begin anew, starting a routine or regimen that enhances our lives. This could well be an opportunity for each of us to consider our strengths and weaknesses in an open and transparent way. Enlisting the support of those close to us we can concentrate on improving our best qualities and eliminating our faults.
Never forget how valuable you are in the eyes of God, His wish is simple, that you see yourself in His eyes.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
5 Steps to Finding Humility
Step 1: Start with a prayer for humility:
Loving God,
teach me to see myself as You see me,
neither greater nor less than I truly am.
Free me from the need to compare, to compete,
or to prove my worth.
Help me remember my humble beginnings
and the dignity You placed within me from the start.
Give me the grace to recognize the same sacred worth in others,
and to serve with an open and generous heart.
May humility ground me in truth,
draw me closer to You,
and lead me to live with gratitude, compassion, and peace.
Amen.
Step 2: Begin with honest self-awareness. Take time to see yourself truthfully: your gifts, limits, strengths, and weaknesses, without exaggeration or denial.
Step 3: Stop comparing yourself with others and focus on becoming who you are meant to be.
Step 4: Reflect on where you come from and what you share with others. The same dignity, fragility, and destiny.
Step 5: Be grateful for what you have been given, grounding you in appreciation rather than entitlement.
Like, share and repost this reflection so it can reach someone who needs it. Also, please explore previous words of wisdom from Father Leo at LFAPurpose.com.