Humility is the quality of being modest, respectful, and free from pride. It means having an accurate view of oneself rather than thinking less of oneself.
Key Traits of Humility
- Self-forgetfulness: Thinking about your own ego less often and focusing more on others.
- Openness: Being glad to listen to new ideas and accept when you are wrong.
- No need to brag: Not needing extra praise or the main spotlight to feel good. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Other-Orientation: Shifting focus away from the ego to actively listen to, value, and lift up the contributions of other people.
What Humility is Not
- Not self-hate: It does not mean treating yourself poorly or thinking you are useless.
- Not weakness: You can be strong and brave while still caring for others first.
- Not shyness: It is an active choice to be kind, not a quiet fear of people.
PRACTICAL WAYS TO CULTIVATE HUMILITY
- Actively Seek Feedback: Regularly ask colleagues or loved ones how you can improve, and listen without immediately defending yourself.
- Practice Active Appreciation: Go out of your way to praise the specific talents, victories, and hard work of people around you.
- Ask More Questions: In casual conversations, talk less about your own experiences and focus more on curious, open-ended questions about others.
- Admit Errors Quickly: When a plan fails or a mistake is made, own your part of it clearly without deflecting blame or making excuses.
We should check ourselves daily, asking our reasons or our motives for doing what we do...
1. Are we seeking praises from others,
2. Are we trying to manipulate someone to get or do what we want them to?
3. Do we see ourselves as entitled to whatever because "we all that and a bag of chips"?
We all have reasons for what we do and don't do...so let us be honest with ourselves as to why we are doing the things we do...Its a major step towards our peace and self growth!