"Too Big For Your Boots." I knew it was an idiom, but I never delved too deep to understand it. Recently, I observed and tried to relate it to a few examples and found that this idiom does have a lot of meaning. The dictionary says, "behaving as if you were more important than you are." Some say it means being arrogant. It looks like having an inflated perception of your importance. You start feeling you are better than others and different from others. You begin developing a superiority complex, thinking you are crucial and trying to boost your importance.
When do you start feeling more critical? When you receive something you do not deserve, when you get something you have not thought about, when you have a fear and believe it will not last long, when you know it was not due to your potential.
People of such a category are involved in the minutiae, and since they fear losing it, they want to enjoy this false power. What is this false power? It can be a promotion you received. You know you did not deserve it. You did not create the wealth you received, the authority you gained, but the conviction was not there. Small wins and gains make you think you have become a celebrity. Success starts with transforming your behavior. You are less likely to learn from the people around you, and you start losing respect from others. You get attracted to people in power, who have authority, and see that as a ladder to success. You start living a selfish life. One more thing about boasting about such behavior is that your value system is weak, you do not have a view of your capability, and you fail to see the big picture. Your acceptability within your family and friends has been low. You cultivate false relationships, so you do everything that attracts attention and makes you feel superior to others.
If you are modest, people love you for your modesty, your thoughts and statements are valued, and you are respected irrespective of your titles, wealth, or empire. People come forward to connect with you in some shape or form. People do not forget to greet you. People find you through Facebook, Twitter, blogs, etc. People try to develop their virtues and follow your value system. As a result, you are pleasant company, and people enjoy being around you. Consequently, you earn absolute and lasting respect from others.
Some modest people like APJ Abdul Kalam and Sachin Tendulkar exhibit virtues like humility and modesty. They never forget their roots, maintain the same behavior, and let success change their fundamentals while displaying their values. They live by example, and their simplicity and humbleness hold a special place in people's hearts. Unknowingly, they garner a lot of respect and love from those around them.
I watched one of the KBC episodes (The year 2014 series) hosted by Amitabh Bachchan. One of the contestants on the hot seat said to Amitabh, "Why do you work hard? You have done enough in your life. You should rest at least at night." Amitabh, with his modesty, replied, "I have to work hard and stay awake because of the love and respect I receive from people. People are waiting for me on my blogs and Twitter. If I am late in responding, people get worried and start tweeting, 'Sir, where are you? Why are you late today? Is everything well with you?' and so on. I cannot keep people waiting." Is this not an example of modesty?
On the contrary, when you lack modesty and don't know how to achieve it, you may misuse your wealth and position. You chase after honor and distance yourself from dignity unknowingly. You will always go for things that may not be right but will earn you accolades. But modest and virtuous people shun such behavior. You need to live a life without the greed to become big, without exhibiting arrogance, without portraying an untrue image of yourself; otherwise, you will earn the permanent title of "TOO BIG FOR YOUR BOOTS."
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