The first degree of humility, then, is that a person keep the fear of God before his eyes and beware of ever forgetting it. Let him be ever mindful of all that God has commanded; let his thoughts constantly recur to the hell-fire which will burn for their sins those who despise God, and to the life everlasting which is prepared for those who fear Him. Let him keep himself at every moment from sins and vices, whether of the mind, the tongue, the hands, the feet, or the self-will, and check also the desires of the flesh.

Fear... hell-fire ... sins and vices... desires of the flesh.

This is an unfortunate way to cultivate humility. Our impulse for self-preservation is used to discourage self-indulgence. The focus remains on the self.

Fear of eternal pain is used to discourage enjoyment of temporary pleasure. But here both pleasure and pain are self-referential.

Instead we might be encouraged to recognize more fully the power of our relationships. What of sympathy, empathy, and love?

Reality - in which we are to be grounded - is a web of relationships. In wise recognition of need for, connection with, and celebration of the other we are more likely to nurture humility.