Three wonderful words. For when spoken, they express humility; one of the most attractive characteristics a human being can possess. It implies being open, humble, and honest. Not sugarcoating, not lying, not pretending to know more than you do, just laying it all out there that you… don’t… know.
It opens the flood gates for knowledge to pour through. It removes the barriers the ego has cleverly constructed. It makes one vulnerable, but also able to grow. To have humility is a beautiful gift to bestow.
You know what else is amiable? Apologies; taking ownership for your mistakes. As I sit eating breakfast at my favorite restaurant, pondering what else to say about the pearls of humility, the waiter approaches and says, “I am sorry, that was my fault.” And it hits me: admitting your mistakes, fessing up when you’re wrong, that’s another example of having humility. It takes courage to admit when you don’t know something and to admit when you are wrong. In both cases, when you do, not only do you walk away with a clear conscious, you inspire others to tag along.