Joe traces his own evolution of humility through three stages. First: thinking humility meant making himself small, thinking less of himself. Second: the Fool’s Crow model — being a hollow bone, a clean vessel for something greater to move through. Third, and most recent: recognizing that it’s also deeply personal. “I’ve done this work and this wouldn’t be happening without me. And really, this is not me at all.” Holding both.
Each stage felt complete at the time. Each had its own rut. Moving from impersonal humility back to personal ownership terrified him — he was afraid of returning to putting himself above others. But denying the personal nature of his power actually made him more dangerous, not less.
“The hollowing out process is also always going on. The evolution doesn’t end. It seems to be this perpetual process of letting go of one epiphany and finding that epiphany has its own rut and then just continuing to learn.”
This applies to everyone doing transformational work: if you think you’ve had an awakening experience, if you think you’re fully enlightened, “you are not done.” Jerry, at 61, says “I’m still growing up, man. I am still a wreck. And that’s a good thing.”
Related Concepts
- Every epiphany becomes the next rut
- Awakening is not an endpoint
- Gentle narcissism hides in the call to coach
- Developmental stages: to me, by me, through me, as me
- Letting compliments move all the way through you destroys ego
- Every epiphany is a rut waiting to happen
- Humility can require self-care