I recently stumbled upon a quote from Richard Rohr that’s been rattling around in my brain:
“A mouse in a mansion does not need to take lessons in humility.”
At first, I chuckled, picturing a tiny intimidated mouse scurrying through grand hallways. But then, as often happens with these nuggets of wisdom, it hit me – there’s something truly profound here about leadership.
Think about it. That little mouse knows exactly what it is and where it stands in the grand scheme of things. It’s not trying to be the mansion owner, nor is it cowering in fear of its surroundings. It’s just… being a mouse.
Here’s the lesson: How often do we struggle with either puffing ourselves up to seem bigger than we are, or shrinking away, afraid to take up space? It’s like we’re constantly toggling between feeling like we own the mansion and feeling like we don’t even deserve to be in it.
But what if we took a cue from the Mouse / Mansion Maxim? What if we embraced an accurate assessment of who we are – our strengths, our weaknesses, our place in the world?
In Die Empty, I wrote about the difference between confidence and ego:
Confidence says “I can get this right”, Ego says “I can do no wrong.”
Confidence says “I’m not explaining it well”, Ego says “You don’t get me.”
Confidence says “I’m valuable”, Ego says “I’m invaluable.”
When we cultivate a kind of confident self-awareness, something powerful happens. We no longer need to fear others or constantly compare ourselves. We can operate from a place of genuine humility – not the fake, self-deprecating kind, but the real deal. The kind that comes from knowing exactly who you are and being okay with it.
True humility actually breeds confidence. Not the brash, look-at-me kind of confidence, but a quiet, unshakeable sureness. You know your worth, you know your limits, and you’re comfortable with both. You can appreciate the grandeur of the mansion without feeling the need to claim it as your own.
True confidence makes trustworthy leaders.
In our creative lives, this balance is crucial. It allows us to take risks without fear of failure crushing us. It helps us collaborate without either dominating or disappearing. It gives us the freedom to create authentically, without constantly looking over our shoulders or ahead at the competition.
So, my challenge to you this week is this: Be the mouse. If you want to be brave, focused, and brilliant, begin with embracing who you are.
You might just find that in accepting your limits, you unlock limitless potential.
