Practice Humility
Humility is an underrated quality that isn't touched upon as often as it should be. Humility is in fact one of the most powerful and important attributes of growth. Being humble helps to build trust and facilitates learning, which are key aspects of leadership and personal development.
However, our culture places so much value on external accomplishments and self-appearances that it sometimes becomes a challenge to express humility. It is because we often misinterpret this active demonstration as a sign of weakness, when in actuality it is an indication of tremendous inner strength.
Being humble is not the same as lacking confidence. Humility means acknowledging that we have limits, that we need support and guidance from others, that we cannot go it completely alone. We can have great confidence in ourselves while still understanding that it is impossible to be totally self-reliant in the complex, challenging, and rapidly changing world. If we acknowledge that we can't manage everything by ourselves, that we are not always right and we do not have all the answers then, we are more likely to ask for help from others, and achieve success.
In the words of the great Mother Teresa, "These are the few ways we can practice humility: To speak as little as possible of one's self. To mind one's own business. Not to want to manage other people's affairs. To avoid curiosity. To accept contradictions and correction cheerfully. To pass over the mistakes of others. To accept insults and injuries. To accept being slighted, forgotten and disliked. To be kind and gentle even under provocation. Never to stand on one's dignity. To choose always the hardest."
To work on cultivating humility, try one or more of these activities:
Spend time listening to others. A key quality to humbleness is to value others' opinion and enable them to be heard. By spending time listening to others, and drawing out their feelings and values, enabling them to express themselves, is a very powerful way to understand this.
Practice mindfulness and focus on the present. A key part of mindfulness is accepting what is, rather than always judging and commenting on it. An important element of humility is accepting yourself with all of your faults, rather than judging yourself for your shortcomings. It doesn't mean you should not strive to improve, but positively, rather than berating yourself for any negative qualities that may exist.
Be grateful for all that you have. Take the time to count your blessings and approach things with an attitude of gratitude. Taking time to stop and remember what you have to be grateful for is a good way to cultivate a more humble, positive frame of mind.
Don't be afraid to ask others for help or feedback. Humility lies in recognizing that we all need help from time to time. And being able to ask for it appropriately. We can all gain from what others think about us. Listen to feedback openly. Humble people know that asking questions or asking for help doesn't make you weak. If anything, it makes you a stronger person, both mentally and physically.
Humble people share some common traits:
- Humble people build bridges, not walls.
- Humble people aren't afraid to say "I'm Sorry".
- Humble people don't label others.
- Humble people are more concerned about the world they leave behind, than the one they're living in.
We need more humility in our lives. Humility can transform our marriages, our families, our churches, our workplace, our communities. Being humble requires maturity and accountability in order to make it a constant positive attribute in your life. It not only affects your relationship with yourself, but also dictates how you interact with and are perceived by others. Practice humility today.
Make today great.
Curtis
"Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less." - C.S. Lewis
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