What Is Humility?
Humility is the ability to view yourself accurately as an individual with talents as well as flaws while being void of arrogance and low self-esteem.
Humility is not always acknowledged as a relevant trait to possess, but it is in fact a remarkable character strength.
Humility isn’t always seen as a strength but sometime’s thought of as a weakness. Some believe that humility is having low opinions of yourself, low self-esteem, and a lack of confidence. It is in fact the opposite, humility is having the self-esteem to understand that even though you are doing well, you do not have to brag or gloat about it.
Benefits of Being Humble
It is important to stay humble because having humility not only helps you develop a more kind approach to interacting with others but it also influences how you perceive yourself and the world around you.
Strengthens Connection With Others
Humility helps one extend more compassion and empathy to others. Those who practice humility are more likely to consider others’ beliefs and opinions. This is most likely because humility offers the opportunity to become less self-involved and more attuned with the feelings of others.
This is because humility offers the opportunity to become less self-involved and more attuned with the feelings of others.
If you're able to be happy for others and their accomplishments and not be consumed by jealousy or self-pity, this can help your develop more positive relationships.
Broaden's Perspective of Self
Humility also helps in the development of self-growth and self-awareness, because it allows one to rationally acknowledge ways in which they can improve themself.
Humility can produce more happiness, positive emotions, and well-being because a person has a clearer understanding of the self. They are able to be comfortable with who they are and who they are not.
In a study evaluating undergraduate students' perspectives of humility, researchers found humility to be associated with positive emotion and good psychological adjustment.
Broaden's Perspective of the World
Humility can help develop a more profound and evolved outlook of the world and what is going on in it. Humility allows you to consciously be aware that you bring worth to this world but that there are many others in the world who also have a purpose.
Strengthens Connection Between Spirituality, Religion & Well-Being
Humility is a religious virtue. There is a correlation between humility, positive well-being, religion, and spirituality.
Researchers discovered that for those with a moderate amount of humility, as opposed to lower levels, humility acts as a moderator that helps facilitate positive psychological functioning for those who consider themselves religious or spiritual.
According to researchers, these results could indicate that a person must have some form of humility in order for humility to act as a moderator to these factors.
How to Be More Humble
Let's take a look at ways in which you can learn to be more humble.
Don't Mix Up Pride With Prideful
Most would consider humility the antonym of pride and may associate pride as being a bad trait to possess.
Pride is not a negative thing, it is actually quite important. Pride comes from being proud and there is nothing wrong with being proud of yourself or where you come from.
Taking pride in yourself, your culture, your achievements, etc. are great qualities. It’s important to embrace who you are, what you’ve accomplished and the journey it took to get there.
Pride is the appreciation of yourself and your beliefs, it is having confidence and assurance that you are an important and relevant contribution to this world.
However, if pride becomes extreme that is when humility is absent and a person may exhibit selfish or narcissistic behaviors.
If a person begins to think they are better than others and only makes decisions that depend on what’s best for them, they are considered self-centered and prideful.Obsessive pride makes it difficult to be considerate to others or form genuine relationships. People who are too prideful may not notice or realize that there are areas in which they can improve on.
Prideful people may also find it difficult to be self-aware when they are in the wrong.
Do Some Soul Searching
Usually, those who are prideful display a co*ckiness that often stems from unidentified insecurities. Overly high self-esteem is not actually confidence but in fact repressed negative emotions towards oneself.
Researchers in the field of social psychology found individuals who displayed egotism and narcissism presented higher levels of “displaced aggression” when hearing insults that threatened their egos.
Understand Yourself Better
Insecurities that people don't often acknowledge could be the source of egotistic or self-righteous behavior to protect oneself from criticism from others or rejection. It’s important to evaluate if overly high self-esteem may originate from your own insecurities or past experiences. A mental health professional can help you get some more insight into who are you and who you would like to be.
Give Out Compliments When You Can
Acknowledging the achievements and accomplishments of others can help you move the focus off of yourself a bit.
Compliment people for jobs well done. Focusing on the feelings of others sometimes helps you get out of yourself more.
We all need to hear from others every now and then that we’re on the right track, so be the person that assures someone they’re doing OK.
Don't Be a Pushover
Don’t confuse humility with compliancy. Holding people to high regard and consideration does not mean you must allow them to walk all over you.
You should always stand up for yourself and what you believe and do your best no matter what. The point of humility is that you do not have to make someone feel worthless while doing so. This doesn't mean becoming a pushover though.
Allowing others to take advantage of you can take a toll on your well-being. This also impacts an individual’s confidence and can cause resentment, so be sure to consider yourself while considering others.
Humility Is Underrated
Many people do not realize how essential it is to be humble. This may be because they do not fully understand the concept or have yet to learn what it means to be humble.
Humility in Society
After coming across a survey evaluating life satisfaction in middle-aged adults, experts in positive psychology found it concerning that humility and modesty were not highly recognized character traits that equated to life satisfaction. This discovery forced them to reflect on America’s culture in regards to how we view such traits as humility.
In a very communist society, individuals embed a “survivor of the fittest” mindset, in which the stronger and better reach the top, so people are forced to develop a “ lookout for your own” viewpoint. People are exposed to consistent competition as children where they're competing for attention in academia, athletics, and the home. Later, in adulthood, this competitive nature rears its head in career settings.
Similar ideologies are present in what both children and adults watch and listen to. The culture of the entertainment industry, such as music, television, and other sources often consuming our attention, finds a need to portray very vain and egocentric concepts.
In a study including undergraduate students, humility was not viewed as a quality necessary for entertainers or leaders. This makes it difficult to understand the need for humility not just in how we engage with each other, but in how we view the world.
A Word From Verywell
Even if you were the best at something this time, be modest because you just may not be the best next time around, and that’s OK. Accept failure graciously whenever it occurs and humbly support others by giving someone else their flowers and a standing ovation when it's due. Sometimes you won't be the one on the stage receiving the flowers and it can feel just as satisfying in the audience, sitting down and being humble.
The Extraordinary Gift of Being Ordinary With Harvard Professor Ronald Siegel
As an expert in psychology and positive behavior, I find the topic of humility to be of great significance. My background includes extensive research and practical experience in understanding human behavior, emotions, and the factors that contribute to personal well-being. I have delved into studies on humility, its psychological impact, and its role in fostering positive connections with others.
The article discusses the concept of humility, emphasizing its importance as a character strength. I'd like to provide additional insights and information related to the key concepts discussed:
1. Definition of Humility:
- Humility is accurately portrayed as the ability to recognize one's talents and flaws without arrogance or low self-esteem.
- It involves having the self-esteem to refrain from bragging, even when successful.
2. Benefits of Being Humble:
-
Strengthens Connection With Others:
- Humility fosters compassion and empathy toward others.
- Positive relationships are developed by being happy for others without succumbing to jealousy.
-
Broadens Perspective of Self:
- Humility contributes to self-growth and self-awareness by acknowledging areas for improvement.
- It leads to increased happiness, positive emotions, and well-being.
-
Broadens Perspective of the World:
- Humility enables a profound and evolved outlook on the world, recognizing the worth of oneself and others.
-
Strengthens Connection Between Spirituality, Religion & Well-Being:
- Humility is linked to positive psychological functioning, especially for those who are religious or spiritual.
3. How to Be More Humble:
-
Don't Mix Up Pride With Prideful:
- Pride is acknowledged as positive but can become problematic when extreme, leading to selfish behaviors.
-
Do Some Soul Searching:
- Egotism and narcissism may stem from unidentified insecurities.
- High self-esteem may be a defense mechanism against criticism.
-
Give Out Compliments When You Can:
- Acknowledging others' achievements shifts focus away from oneself.
-
Don't Be a Pushover:
- Humility doesn't equate to compliancy; one should stand up for oneself while considering others.
4. Humility in Society:
- Cultural Perspective:
- The article explores how societal values, particularly in competitive cultures, may impact the recognition of humility.
- The influence of entertainment media is discussed, portraying a need for more humility in various domains.
5. A Word From Verywell:
- The conclusion emphasizes the importance of modesty, acceptance of failure, and supporting others graciously.
In summary, humility goes beyond a simple acknowledgment of one's strengths and weaknesses. It has far-reaching implications for personal development, relationships, and societal well-being. Embracing humility contributes to a more compassionate and interconnected world.
