“One day, while I was walking with my father, he stopped at a bend before reaching an old, deserted road. Then he asked me:
– Besides the birds singing, the sun and the smell of the flowers, do you notice anything else, my son?
I looked around and after a few seconds I answered:
– I’m hearing the sound of a cart.
“That’s right,” my father said. “It’s an empty road.”
I asked him how he could know the road was deserted if we hadn’t seen it yet.
Then my father answered me:
– It’s very easy to tell when a cart is empty, because of the noise. The emptier the cart, the louder it makes.
Years passed, I grew up, and my father died. Today, when I hear someone talking too much, interrupting others’ conversations, being inopportune, showing off, or trying to be the center of attention, I seem to hear my father saying, ‘The emptier the wagon, the more noise it makes.'”
You’ve probably encountered such people along your path, or perhaps you’ve even behaved this way at some point in your life.
Empty people are those who don’t listen to others; they only want to hear their own voice. They surround themselves with many people out of fear of loneliness, but they aren’t really interested in getting to know them deeply. Some adopt an arrogant attitude, while others boast about their accomplishments, which they sometimes mask with a false guise of modesty. In fact, the phrase ” in my humble opinion ” is often nothing more than a display of pride in disguise.
These people generally need to make a lot of noise, they need to impose their views because they feel deeply insecure, because they are emotionally empty, and when they look inside themselves, they are frightened by what they find. These are people who, at home, always have the television or music on, not because they like it, but because it makes them feel less alone. Noise is a shield they use to protect themselves from the silence and, therefore, from themselves.
These people also tend to behave selfishly and often harbor a lot of frustration, envy, and resentment. Obviously, these feelings, which get them nowhere, only make them feel bad and alienate them from others.
They are accustomed to prioritizing themselves, satisfying their needs above those of others, and allowing themselves to be carried away by a frenetic pace of life where there is no room for reflection or for establishing deep relationships.
Consequently, they build what are known as “liquid relationships,” that is, they maintain friendships or romantic relationships based on very fragile bonds that quickly break down. As soon as a person stops meeting their needs, they become less interesting, and they move on to a new relationship. They are always on the lookout for new external stimuli because that way they don’t have to look inward.
The emptier the piggy bank, the louder it makes
Humility is a great virtue. Truly successful and accomplished people don’t need to go around the world trumpeting their achievements because they feel good about themselves. They don’t seek approval; they accept and love themselves just the way they are. And that’s enough for them.
In fact, humility is not simplicity, but simplicity in greatness. Practicing humility means taking responsibility for doing things, rather than proclaiming that we’re going to do them; it means committing and not expecting any satisfaction other than that which comes from a job well done.
Knowing how to listen, being receptive to others’ messages, and even respecting silence are signs of humility and maturity. These are the things that inspire trust in others and make us good people.
Humility also involves recognizing and accepting our flaws, weaknesses, and limitations. It predisposes us to question everything we’ve taken for granted. If we tend to be vain or arrogant, humility encourages us to keep our mouths shut and talk about our successes only when asked. It also commands us to be brief and not gloat too much, giving others a chance to speak.
The interesting thing is that as we cultivate humility, as we make room for silence, we learn from the mistakes we make, and thus we grow. Suddenly, we no longer feel the need to argue, impose our opinions, or be right at all costs. We open ourselves to the points of view of others and explore new ways of seeing and approaching life that we probably didn’t even know existed.
Humility as a way to reach your essence
People who talk a lot, who make a lot of noise, don’t reveal their true essence. In reality, what speaks is their ego. Their essence is hidden behind layers of resentment, insecurity, or vanity.
The best way to reach our essence, develop a humble attitude, and enrich ourselves as people is to look within. If life lacks meaning, acknowledge it. If you feel emptiness, accept it. It’s important to stop looking the other way and hiding those feelings because self-deception is nothing more than a lack of honesty. Continuing to deceive ourselves will only serve to increase our problems.
Of course, honesty can be painful at first. It’s difficult to admit that our lives lack meaning, that we’ve made mistakes, or that we feel empty. However, in the long run, it’s a liberating step that allows us to face the truth, revealing who we really are and how we relate to others and to ourselves.
Promoting self-awareness has a therapeutic effect. First and foremost, it reduces the fear of searching within ourselves and recognizing our “dark side.” It also prevents us from continuing to wear a mask that we wear to try to please others, frees us from the need for acceptance, and alleviates social pressure.
Finally, humility prevents us from continuing to sweep our emotional conflicts under the rug. It gives us the strength we need to question ourselves and grow. In fact, when you embark on this path, you’ll likely discover that you don’t need to justify yourself to others when they point out your flaws, because you feel secure and know yourself.
When you know yourself, you don’t need to make noise, because those who carry a lot inside don’t have the need to let it all out .
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