When your talent makes you stand out
and they notice you
and it’s awkward
because you don’t conform to their average-ness
and it triggers their insecurity
and they cut you down

Do you hide your brilliance
or at least tone it down a notch or two
so that you appear above average (which is OK)
but not exceptional
because that would be prideful
or arrogant?

Have you been so conditioned by Average
that you automatically bully yourself
without even thinking about it
and tell yourself the comfortable lie
that you’re just being Humble
by suppressing the exceptional you?

Because if you really shine
others may get jealous
you’ll have critics
your convenient friends might leave
or you might publicly trip
or have to face your own insecurities

Do you see how this is still all about you?
It’s self-centered
negative, yes, but still self-centered
so let’s call it what it is
an imposter
False Humility

True Humility takes guts
to embrace the exceptional you
and let it shine
and face criticism
and ignore your internal bully
and pick yourself

But then you’re on the hook
to actually do something
excuses taken away
hard work required
maybe that’s why it was easier to hide
but that was before

Now you can get to work
doing what matters
making a difference
being an example
pushing yourself to higher levels
and being truly humble