Flavor #22: Humility (Tsana; Tapeinos)

(Complete list and links to the 31 Flavors of Wisdom)

Meaning, Essence and Significance: Humility, as expressed by the Hebrew term Tsana, signifies modesty and a humble demeanor, emphasizing a person’s recognition of their limitations and a submissive attitude, particularly in relation to God. The Greek term Tapeinos denotes a state of lowliness or humility, often highlighting a reliance on God’s empowerment and guidance rather than yours alone. Tapeinos also stands in stark contrast to another word we often associate with humility, which is it’s opposite: Pride or Hyperephanos (“above the Light”). With humility, I’m in the correct position with the Light (John 8:12): open to its instruction, guidance, and empowerment, for my benefit and for the benefit of others. With toxic Pride, I place myself in the delusional position that I know more than the Light, which tends to foment other “Killer D’s” (Denial, Defensiveness, Deflection, Dishonesty, to name a few) and always ends poorly! Together, these concepts underscore humility as an essential virtue that fosters a healthy and balanced self-view, where you acknowledge your strengths and weaknesses without arrogance or self-deprecation, and you remain open and teachable to the lessons Wisdom desires to freely give to you.

Practical Appearance and Nutritional Value: Practically, humility manifests as a balanced self-perception, avoiding both overestimation and underestimation of your abilities. It involves recognizing your talents as gifts to be used responsibly, while remaining open and receptive to skillfully applying the knowledge imparted by others to achieve effective and respectful outcomes in your interactions.  The “nutritional value” of humility lies in its capacity to promote personal growth, enhance relationships, and cultivate new ways of seeing and doing things by maintaining a teachable spirit. By valuing others and remaining open to learning, humility acts as a catalyst for continuous development and harmonious interactions.​

Who deserves some of this seasoning? “Integrating the sweet spice of humility in my interaction with a colleague who struggles with accepting feedback can be transformative. Demonstrating humility by actively seeking their input, admitting my own mistakes, and showing openness to learning can model the behavior I wish to encourage. This approach fosters mutual respect and creates an environment where constructive feedback is viewed as an opportunity for growth rather than criticism.​”

So thanks again for looking at these 31 Flavors of Wisdom and hopefully, participating in the 31 Day Wisdom Challenge, and for reading this excerpt from Cultivating Love: Wisdom for Life. As time permits, please visit the other blogs written by Dr. Ken McGill: Daily Bread for Life and “3–2- 5–4–24” for additional information that could be helpful.