There is as much greatness of mind in acknowledging a good turn, as in doing it. – Seneca
Sometimes saying thank you means more to them than you can possibly imagine. But are you humble enough to do so? You can be if you want to, and you are willing to try.
What does that mean?
The act of doing something nice for someone else, a good turn as it is described in the quote, is an act of kindness. The acknowledge-ment of that kindness is a response of kindness.
While the physical benefit of having a kind act done for you might not be equaled by your kind words in return, this quote is about the greatness of mind involved in the acknowledgement thereof.
By this measure, you are being as great in the acknowledging the kindness done for you as they were in doing the kindness in the first place. That may sound odd, but consider the person who refuses to acknowledge the good turn, and how small and petty they seem.
In my opinion, this is the whole point of the quote. The act humbles the person doing the kindness. The acknowledgement humbles the recipient. In this manner, they become equals, and greater than they were before.
Why is humility important?
I know, it can be hard to be humble when we’re as awesome as we all are. And no, I’m not kidding. We are each awesome and special in our own ways. We may not always feel it, but it’s there. It is just that most of us are already fairly humble people.
Of course, there are those who have no difficulty recognizing their awesomeness. They often have equally little difficulty reminding everyone around them of it. They are in need of a little work on humility, at least in my humble opinion. 8)
Can you imagine what society would be like if everyone was an ego-maniac, busy reminding everyone of their awesomeness? Yuck! Every once in a while, mentioning how great you are is fine. Just don’t let it go to your head.
And that is the point of humility. An egotist is going to have a hard time acknowledging that someone helped them. Even some normal people have a hard time with it. But if we can be humble, and get our ego out of the way, we can make the other person who helped us feel as good about themselves as they just made us feel.
Where can I apply this in my life?
This quote, at it’s root, is about the human fabric, society, and how we all get along. If you knew no one would ever say “Thanks!” or acknowledge you and your efforts, most people wouldn’t be anywhere near as likely to help others. That’s just human nature.
We are social creatures. Even dedicated introverts like myself appreciate and long for the occasional kind word. And it makes a good payment because we recognize, if only deep inside ourselves, that the kind word takes no small effort for most people to give.
Yes, most of us are taught to say “Thank you” and “Please” when we were young. But how often do you remember to do it as an adult? Some of the time? Most of the time? Half of the time? Sometimes, if you can manage to remember it? And depending on the day, it could be even worse, right?
Now take a moment and switch places with the other person. You’ve done nice things for others before. Everything from holding a door open to letting them in line when traffic is heavy. How did it feel? And how much better did it feel those times when you good turn was acknowledged?
Even a smile or a wave can make a big difference in your life, or at least your attitude. Can you recall a time when you got home and had to vent to someone about the ungrateful person who didn’t acknowledge your good deed? I know I have, and I bet you have at some point as well.
What does that tell you about how important, and how much greatness there is in acknowledging a kindness done for you? To me, that is what this quote is about. And when you look at it from both sides, it becomes fairly clear just how great it is to get the acknowledgement.
But for you to get it, others have to give it. And if they want to get it, you will have to give it as well, right? So start with the smallest of things. The holding of a door. The smile in the hallway. The “hello” from a neighbor, co-worker or even a stranger. They did a good turn. What will you do?
Habits are ropes woven of tiny threads. Each time you remember to be kind back to someone, you add another thread. Eventually, you can’t help but to thank them for even the most trivial of things. But a kindness given is never a trivial thing. Remember that, and acknowledgment will come easily.
From: Twitter, @philo_quotes
confirmed at : http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/l/luciusanna155015.html
Photo by Lily
Related articles
- Redefining Humility (inspirepacifica.wordpress.com)
- Humility Helps (tonningsen.wordpress.com)
- My Definition of Humility (seekingtruth88.com)
- The Art and Science of the Humblebrag (challies.com)
- Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, And The Power Of Humility In Leadership (fastcompany.com)
