I suppose there are many reasons it took me thirty-eight cycles to finally tackle nobility. It can be so broad and all-encompassing of the others. If you effectively embody and employ virtues, then you are truly noble. Your bright light shines authentically for everyone to see when you act in accordance with natural ideals. Many will not appreciate the exemplary example you exude, but we are not here to be liked by everyone. We are here to fulfill our best possible purpose(s). It can ruffle feathers along the way due to jealousy, discomfort, and many other negative, non-noble traits, behaviors, and actions.
Virtue is the only true nobility.
-Thomas Fuller
Do you know what the Noble Eightfold Path leads toward? In the long-term, nirvana. A nice and lofty ideal or plan, sure, but not something we should focus on for now. In the short-term, equanimity. We become more accepting of each and every moment, we celebrate the good and we learn and work through the bad, and we recognize true light and shun anything false and unhealthy. If our soul is not nurtured by it, then nobility helps us nullify it. We can learn to stand steadfast stolidly. Our emotions are still present, and we still feel plenty, but they merely hold seats at the table or on the bus now. They are no longer running the meeting or driving the vehicle. We slowly begin to more consistently circle a centered stillness of noble certainty that we are being our best self.
Real nobility is based on scorn, courage, and profound indifference.
-Albert Camus
Ultimately, I do not believe that we are here to compete with one another. I believe we can all collaborate collectively if we approach life and all others amicably. We are each here to excel in a way that does not negatively affect others. Nobility navigates us to and nurtures our best life, and our best life naturally helps others nourish noble needs, too.
The truth is that there is nothing noble in being superior to somebody else. The only real nobility is in being superior to your former self.
-Whitney Young
In a recent “Intro to Circling” class, one of the group exercises was illuminating for me. We rehearsed different personality styles or modes of expression as they exist along a gradient scale. At one extreme is collapse, behaving in a perpetually self-defeating way. At the other end is posturing, inflated and selfishly egotistical. More towards the middle are points for humility and dignity. I now consider the sweet spot between these two positive traits to be nobility, a golden centerpiece that would make Goldilocks proud.
We should be too big to take offense and too noble to give it.
-Abraham Lincoln
Do you know what is stopping you from being noble? You. You can blame and complain about something external as a supposed hindrance, but it is not true. What is true is that we can each choose to be noble in this very moment. We can choose nobility in each and every moment. It will be very difficult at times, but I promise it will always be worth it.
The ideal is within you, and the obstacle to reaching this ideal is also within you. You already possess all the material from which to create your ideal self.
-Thomas Carlyle
Ideally, we will all proceed nobly and create our ideal self. Stop holding yourself back. Start having your own back. Fewer sneak attacks. More applause and pats on your back.
Maybe it is wise. Maybe it is dumb. Time will tell.