Hubris

Once again we have those in prominent positions in the news for various immoral acts and which are costing them dearly. I’m not mentioning them by name, not because the attention is not deserved but because those individuals are not the purpose of this blog. When such immoral and/or illegal actions come to light there is a tendency in the media and our social circles to point to human hubris.

There is a bent in all of us to fall victim of hubris. It can subtly touch any of us, sometimes only for a few hours or days, or sometimes for months or years. Living in a town where significant hubris is on display, I am reminded of its subtle allure and that hubris transcends all professions. We see hubris at play in every field, including politics, entertainment, sports, education, research, and nonprofit. While we would wish not to admit it, let us not forget that it the church too has leaders who have become its victims too.

To simply dismiss hubris by simply saying that it effects the wealthy and the powerful, may be unwise. It is not something that infects only the wealthy and powerful. Certainly wealth and power is a factor, not only because wealth and power is relative, but so is our self importance. One of my favorite British comedies is “Keeping Up Appearances”. It is a favorite not because of the witty humor but also because it deals with in a playful way with the hubris run amuck.

 Hubris can creep in and take hold when we frequently shift blame to others, when we horde praise due to others, and when we define our importance/place by who we know on a first name basis, what prestigious events we have attended, the power held to accomplish what we desire, and how often we are in a dominant position.  Hubris starts to take hold when one loses touch with his/her own place and limitations…in other words, when s/he become self-centered, forgetting that they are merely a bit player upon a grand eternal stage.

Everyone can readily fall victims to hubris. Most I dare say could fall victims easily…it is just we have not had the opportunity to have significant influence, power or wealth. Can hubris be prevented? Yes, and we have had many powerful and influential men and women who have kept hubris in check. We can learn from their example. Most recognized that they were just fortunate to be in the right place at the right time…even those who had significant wealth inherited have viewed that they were fortunate to by being born into the family to which they were born. Others have recognized that they did nothing extraordinary, that they rose only due to a series of fortunate breaks and judgments at the right time.

Another commonality is that they knew their core values, that those values were sound, and they held to those values. Religious faith and teachings are often at the heart of their values, but not always. Many powerful and influential people over the course of human life had sound values, that though held in common with religious teachings of their age, had been arrived at independently of faith.

Having a good friend or spouse to act as a foil is another means to limit hubris from taking hold. The foil often stands off stage whispering quietly, and through their reminders, critiques and drawing them back to the core values helps to keep a person grounded in reality.