Humility is a heroic virtue. It is also terribly underrated as a virtue. This is probably because, more often than not, humility goes unnoticed. Humble people probably like it this way.
Is humility underrated as a virtue?
What Humility is Not
- A manner of conduct to be avoided
- A way of hiding for unconfident people
- A symptom of depression
- A non-display of emotion
- A time-saving mechanism
- A behavior exhibited by people who end up losing
- A method of sycophancy
- A technique by which to be subtly self obsessed
Examples of Humility
- A student does most of the work in a school project but lets the entire team take credit for it.
- A mountaineer rescues another mountaineer from an avalanche situation but does not boast about his/her action in front of the press/media.
- A person anonymously donates money toward the chemotherapy expenses of a cancer-stricken stranger. \
- A high-performing sportsperson does not take sole credit for the progress of his/her team to the finals of a world championship but rather shares the credit with teammates.
- An actor who has won multiple Oscars praises the acting prowess of a relative newcomer.
- A husband credits his wife for the success of their marriage.
- A wife credits her husband for the success of their marriage.
- A worker has a terrible day at the workplace. They are given a thorough dressing down by their boss for a project that was allegedly not delivered on time. The worker hears out their boss patiently and does not retaliate verbally. The worker shows his / her boss the time log for the project to show him / her that the project was actually completed within schedule.
Humble People Are
| Self deprecating | Self assured | Open minded |
| Unselfish | Ethical | Modest |
| Emotionally secure |
Humble People Are NOT
| Loud | Intrusive | Arrogant |
| Overbearing | Verbally abusive | Attention seeking |
| Self obsessed |
The Benefits of Being Humble
- Being humble helps one stay grounded and realistic.
- Humility helps one see things as they are and not through rose-tinted lenses.
- Humility makes a person more approachable and easier to relate to. Since humble people have no airs about them, they are often a pleasure to spend time with.
- Being humble helps a person accept and acknowledge his or her faults when they are pointed out.
- Humility fosters patience. Humble people more-often-than-not possess a greater amount of patience than others.
- Humility allows one to be respectful of others and appreciate their efforts.
Humility makes one a champion. It makes one the kind of person who places others before himself or herself. A humble person is appreciated for his or her selflessness. He or she is considered mature and sought out as good company.
How to Use Humility to Your Advantage
- Speak less about yourself. Speak more about the person you are conversing with. Appreciate him/her. He/she will begin to enjoy being in your presence.
- Listen more than you speak. Allow people to talk about themselves and tell you stories from their lives. It is very hard to find listeners these days. Being a listener will make you much sought after.
- Being modest at the workplace will make you appear more trustworthy. It could be the X-factor that helps you get a promotion ahead of someone else.
- Humility sets a powerful example. People will emulate your humble behavior when they see enough of it and when they notice the impact you make.
- When you are in a relationship, your humility will help resolve conflicts faster. Your partner will definitely notice your humility and begin to be more humble himself/herself.
