“The basic ingredients of humility are unpretentiousness and a willingness to submit to a Higher Power’s will.”

– Life with Hope, second edition, page 31

When I got to recovery and heard the term “humility,” I had no idea what they were talking about. I had to look the word up in the dictionary. It still didn’t make sense until I started working the Steps with my sponsor. I kept hearing people at meetings say things like humility is being “right size” with your Higher Power (and other people), not better than or worse than. I also heard that the Latin root of the word humility means “of the earth.” I heard that addicts are ego-maniacs with an inferiority complex.

As I worked the Steps, I began to lose that sense of feeling “less than” all the time. A miracle happened and I began to work the Third Step every day, praying to my Higher Power to do their will, not mine. Being in acceptance also feels like humility because it means I know I’m not in charge or thinking I know best.

Final thought: Today, I know I can be right sized, not better than or worse than.