Alongside altruism, compassion, gratitude and empathy, humility belongs to virtues that bind society together. And even though most people perceive humility as a virtue, it can be also considered as a psychological trait. Basically, humility relates to the extent to which we value our interests above others. In other words, it’s about a balance between modesty and self-promotion. Let’s consider this phenomenon in more detail.
What Is Humility?
Humility is not thinking of ourselves more highly than it’s appropriate. To better understand this psychological concept, let’s examine its aspects. According to Worthington, humility is made up of accurate self-perception, modest self-portrayal and other-oriented relational stance. Tangney identifies six elements of humility, such as a willingness to see ourselves truthfully, openness, an accurate perception of our place in the society, an ability to acknowledge our limitations, low self-focus as well as appreciation of all things.
What’s more, humility can be viewed as a character strength, opposite of pride and arrogance. It’s a key component of moral character that is manifested in modesty, respect, empathy and caring attitude toward others. By the way, you can check humility essay topics and ideas for high school students if you want to learn more information on this theme. They are available at Samplius and you can access them absolutely for free. Dweck views humility as a specific “growth mindset” which helps to overcome negative traits. It’s also about the readiness to learn from others and one’s own failures. So humility is all about constant self-improvement.
Why Humility Is Important in Life
Humility is extremely important in the life of everybody, and students are no exception. Psychologists say that a humble mindset has multiple positive effects on our personality. It promotes cognitive, decision-making and interpersonal skills as well as impacts our ability to learn new things. They say that humble people are great learners and problem solvers that don’t view life as a game of competition but a game of learning from others. Humble people are usually more open-minded and coachable, which can be very beneficial.
Some surveys show that humble students are more open to feedback, so they typically overtake those who think highly of their own abilities and reject all recommendations, even if they are naturally more talented. According to some studies, humility is considered more important for successful performance than IQ.
- It may be surprising but humility is also essential for leaders. Why so? Some studies demonstrate that it fosters trust, creative thinking and engagement. What’s more, there is a correlation between humility and positive emotions. Probably, as a consequence of fewer negative experiences, humility might be related to better mental and physical health. Worthington argues that humility strengthens social bonds, helping build relationships with others. It also enhances collaboration, which opens the door to numerous opportunities.
And last but no least, humility inspires others. When one does something amazing without boasting of it, others might realize that the impossible is actually possible. Isn’t it inspiring?
How to Develop Humility?
Now that you see how valuable humility is, you are probably wondering how to develop this trait. See the tips offered below!
Listen to others
One of the key signs of humbleness is enabling others to be heard. Spend some time listening to others and drawing out their feelings, so they have a chance to express themselves. Note that it’s not about trying to solve someone’s problems but rather about responding to them as a fellow-human.
Be mindful
You might know that mindfulness is about accepting what is without making any judgements or comments. Likewise, a key part of humility is accepting yourself with all your faults and imperfections. But please, don’t think that you shouldn’t strive for improvements. In fact, it’s more about not focusing on your negative qualities.
Express gratitude
To be humble, it’s vital to “count your blessings” every day. Be thankful for what you have to avoid getting sucked into a negative spiral of wanting more and more, both within yourself and externally. Take time to stop and think about everything you have to be grateful for. This way, you’ll cultivate a more humble state of mind.
Ask for feedback
We can become more humble by hearing what others think of us. Of course, it may be quite difficult since it’s impossible to get 100% positive feedback all the time. But facing unpleasant facts about yourself while listening to someone else’s opinion can be very helpful in terms of personal growth. So be open to feedback and ask someone you respect to provide it on any kind of work you do.
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