Tall Poppy Syndrome

Auckland, NZ July 1, 2009

Learned a new phrase this week called, "Tall Poppy Syndrome." It's used to deflate the pretensions of someone who is thinking too highly of themselves or flaunts their demeanor without due humility.

One can see the lesson of humility here, unless they have TPS in which they will be called down on soon enough!

From what I can tell, the New Zealand culture doesn't like to promote others or even endorse a false sense of self, which seems like a positive thing. Some might disagree and argue that without "tall poppy's", society and culture would not rise or make strides if everyone stayed on the same level of achievement. That may also be true.

What I like about TPS is the application in our personal lives. Pride precedes humility too often. We need not lower our worth or value but instead, raise others up over us.

“Humility is like underwear, essential, but indecent if it shows” - Helen Nielsen

“What makes humility so desirable is the marvelous thing it does to us; it creates in us a capacity for the closest possible intimacy with God” - Monica Baldwin

Maybe it's not your place to cut someone back down to size or serve them a dose of humble pie but we all can take a look at our own stature and if the only place we can see people is below us, then we need a TPS check!