Why Is It Important to Stay Humble?

Humility is the ability to accurately view your talents and flaws while being void of arrogance. Some believe that being humble means having low self-esteem and a lack of confidence, but it's 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. 

Learn why it's important to be humble, along with ways to show your humility. We also discuss the importance of humility or being humbled, as well as why this particular character trait is often undervalued.

Benefits of Being Humble

It is important to stay humble, or in some cases be humbled, because having humility not only helps you develop a more kind approach to interacting with others but also influences how you perceive yourself and the world around you.

Strengthens Connection With Others

Humility helps one extend more empathy and compassion to others. Those who are humble 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 to the feelings of others.

Broaden's Perspective of Self

Humility also aids in the development of self-awareness and self-growth. How? Being humble allows one to rationally acknowledge ways they can improve themselves.

Broaden's Perspective of the World

Humility can help you develop a more profound and evolved outlook of the world and what is going on in it. This trait allows you to consciously be aware that you bring worth to this world but, at the same time, there are many others in the world who also have a purpose. 

Strengthens Spirituality, Religion, and Well-Being

Being humble is also considered a religious virtue. There is a correlation between humility, positive well-being, religion, and spirituality. 

Improves Mental Health

Research has found that being humble offers both physical and mental health benefits. Specifically, people who are humble tend to have greater happiness and life satisfaction while also experiencing less depression and anxiety. It is believed that this is because humility buffers the effects of stress on well-being.

How to Be More Humble

Let's take a look at ways in which you can learn to be more humble.

Don't Confuse 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 involves being proud and there is nothing wrong with being proud of yourself or where you come from.

However, if pride becomes extreme, this 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 based 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. Prideful people may also find it difficult to be self-aware when they are in the wrong.

Do Some Soul Searching

Those who are prideful can display a cockiness that stems from unidentified insecurities. Overly high self-esteem is not actually confidence but, in fact, repressed negative emotions toward oneself.

Give Out Compliments When You Can

Acknowledging the achievements and accomplishments of others can help you move the attention off yourself a bit. Focusing on the feelings of others sometimes helps you get out of yourself more.

Compliment others for jobs well done. Every now and then, we all need to hear that we’re on the right track. So, be the person who assures someone they’re doing OK.

Don't Be a Pushover

Don’t confuse humility with compliance. Holding people in high regard and giving them your 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.

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.

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 caused them to reflect on America’s culture and how we view traits such as humility. 

In a 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 “ look out for your own” viewpoint. People are exposed to consistent competition as children, competing for attention in academia, athletics, and the home. In adulthood, this competitive nature rears its head in career settings.

In an older study involving 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.

Takeaways

Even if you are the best at something this time, be humble because you may not be the best the next time around. And that’s okay.

Accept failure graciously when it occurs and humbly support others by giving them flowers and a standing ovation when it's due. Sometimes you won't be the one on the stage receiving accolades and it can feel just as satisfying in the audience, sitting down and being humble.