Some of you may be thinking: What does the word Advent have to do with personal introspection? And you’ve probably heard the word Advent, but associated with Christmas.

In this regard, the word Advent, according to the RAE, comes from the Latin Adventus, which means “coming” and if we look for synonyms in the dictionary we can find: appearance, arrival, emergence and introduction.

However, for us Catholics and Christians in general, Advent is a time of preparation for the celebration of Christmas, while for non-believers, it is a time of family unity, which is why it is a worldwide celebration.

Although nowadays, Christmas is often associated with a period of high consumption, noise, luxury, and sophistication, I believe it is very important to remember that this event, the Nativity of the Son of God, is a celebration of humility par excellence.

Now, taking into consideration what was expressed in the previous paragraph, I would like to invite you all (starting with myself) to do a personal introspection, very simple, but deep at the same time, regarding how our humility was this year, in all the areas in which we operate and identify in what we could improve next year.

In that sense, I share with you some questions that can help us in this inner reflection, to be better people.

1. I get angry if I’m corrected.
2. I feel comfortable when I am being served or when I am serving others.
3. I get irritated if someone is better than me at something in particular.
4. I like being the star in everything I do.

Here are my first personal approaches to the questions I have raised.

• Many times, if I get annoyed when someone corrects me, even in private, the best witness is Jessica, my wife, and with her help I am in the constant struggle to change, because without a doubt this is a sign of pride.
• Over time, I’ve discovered that serving others selflessly is more rewarding, and I try to do this more often. I’ve seen this firsthand through my daughters’ example and their solidarity in various activities.
• I’ve come to understand that we all have different virtues and gifts; therefore, instead of feeling envious, I now observe and try to copy the good, so that I can be better every day.
• Indeed, sometimes I try to be the center of attention, like the bride at a wedding. However, over time, I’ve discovered that it’s better to keep a low profile, meaning speaking up at the right moment and with the right words.

Therefore, after sharing my initial responses to the questions posed, I encourage you to recognize that we can all always improve. If we continuously improve the business processes we’re involved in, why not do the same for ourselves? This will undoubtedly benefit each of us personally and in all the environments we inhabit, whether with family, friends, or, of course, at work and in society at large.

To conclude this article, I’d like to share some phrases associated with humility, which can help us understand the context.

• “A great man is always willing to be small” – Mahatma Gandhi.
• “Pride makes us artificial, and humility makes us real.” – Anonymous.
• “The greatest among you will be the one who serves you, for whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” – Jesus of Nazareth.

May this Advent season help each of us to be better people than we were yesterday, and less than we will be tomorrow. Take heart, and don’t forget to row out into the deep and against the current!