You’d be surprised at the range of factors that shape a humble personality. From habits and mindsets to social norms and religion, humility arises in many ways. Drawing from psychology, spirituality, and real-world experience, we’ll explore the top causes of humility in people. From the thoughts racing through our minds to the company we keep, humility has roots in places you might not expect. Stick around as we count down the key ingredients for cooking up humility in oneself and others. You’ll walk away with fresh perspective on this quiet virtue and how to cultivate it, even in a selfie-snapping world.
Table of Contents
What Makes a Person Humble
Humility is a trait characterized by a lack of arrogance or false pride and an openness to new ideas or feedback. A humble person acknowledges their limitations and imperfections, appreciates others’ strengths and contributions, and values learning and growth over seeking personal glory. They approach situations with a mindset of service rather than dominance, listening actively, and valuing collaboration. Humility also involves recognizing one’s place in the broader context of society and the world, leading to a sense of gratitude and responsibility rather than entitlement.
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1. Habits
Developing good habits is key to cultivating humility. Make it a habit to listen more and talk less. When you listen to others with an open mind, you gain perspective and understanding. You realize there are many things you don’t know or haven’t experienced. Listening also shows you value others, which is a hallmark of humility.
Practice self-reflection; Spend time each day reflecting on your actions and behaviors. Consider how you can improve as a person and learn from your mistakes. Ask yourself questions like.
- Did I make any rash judgments today?
- Was I open-minded in that difficult conversation?
- How can I be a better friend/partner/employee?
Regular self-reflection helps you maintain an accurate self-perception, which is essential to humility.
Give sincere compliments; Make it a habit to compliment others when they deserve it. Say “thank you” and express gratitude and appreciation whenever possible. Giving sincere compliments gets your mind off yourself and focused on others. It also brightens someone else’s day, which is a humble and generous act.
Developing habits of self-reflection, listening well to others, and giving sincere compliments are simple but powerful ways to nurture humility in yourself over the long run. Like any habit, humility becomes second nature with consistent practice and commitment. Start with small changes in your daily routine and build from there. Over time, you’ll find yourself acting with more humility in all areas of your life.
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2. Mindset
Having a humble mindset means you have an accurate view of yourself and your abilities. Self- awareness When you know yourself, your strengths and weaknesses, it’s easier to stay grounded. Conduct an honest self-assessment of your skills and talents. Also reflect on your limitations and faults. This balanced perspective will help cultivate humility.
Growth mindset: Believe that you can improve and grow. Having a growth mindset means you view abilities and intelligence as something that can be developed over time with effort and persistence. This stands in contrast to a fixed mindset, where abilities are seen as static. With a growth mindset, you’ll be open to learning and willing to acknowledge when you’re wrong or lack knowledge in an area.
Accept imperfections; No one is perfect, so accept that you will make mistakes, experience failures, and have weaknesses. Don’t beat yourself up over imperfections and shortcomings. Leam from them and try to do better next time. Understand that there will always be someone better or smarter in some way. Focus on your own journey of bettering yourself rather than comparing yourself to others.
Value others: Make a habit of listening to others and showing interest in their lives, experiences, and perspectives. Appreciate that every person has something to offer. This outward focus moves the spotlight off yourself and helps you gain a more balanced view of your own importance in the grand scheme of things. Valuing others is a hallmark of humility.
In summary, cultivating a humble mindset requires honest self-reflection, a growth mindset, accepting your imperfections, and valuing others. With practice, these mental habits can help ground you in reality and shape your character in a positive way. Staying humble may not always be easy, but it is a virtue worth pursuing.
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3. Thoughts
As human beings, our thoughts ultimately shape our reality and sense of self. Humble individuals tend to have certain thought patterns that contribute to their humility:
Accepting Limitations; Humble people recognize that there are limits to their own knowledge and abilities. They know they don’t have all the answers and that there will always be things outside of their control or understanding. Accepting your own fallibility and imperfections helps cultivate humility.
Openness to Feedback: The humble person has an open and receptive mindset towards feedback, advice, and criticism from others. They understand that there are opportunities for growth and learning even in negative feedback. Being open to input from others, rather than defensive, is a hallmark of humility.
Focus on Others: Rather than being self-centered or self-absorbed, humble individuals tend to focus on others. They show interest in learning about people and understanding different perspectives. This outward focus helps humble people develop empathy and appreciate the value in all human beings.
Continuous Learning; Humble people have a thirst for continuous learning and expanding their knowledge. They know that there is always more to understand in this world. With an endless capacity for growth, humble individuals seek to keep learning and challenging themselves rather than thinking they have nothing more to learn.
In the end, humility comes from within. Developing a humble mindset and way of thinking can help shape you into a wiser, more compassionate, and more well-rounded person. Your thoughts are the foundation for the attitude and character you present to the world.
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4. Attitude
Your attitude and mindset play a major role in developing humility. When you approach life with an open and willing attitude to learn, it allows you to gain perspective and cultivate humility.
Accept your limitations. Recognize that you have limitations and do not know everything. Adopt an open and willing attitude to learn from others. Accept that you will make mistakes, fail, and be imperfect. Focus on growth over perfection. Let go of pride and embrace humility.
Avoid Arrogance: Do not think of yourself as being better or superior to others. Do not be overly boastful or dwell on your own accomplishments. Stay grounded and recognize your flaws and weaknesses. Appreciate that every person has value to offer.
Practice Gratitude: Develop an attitude of gratitude. Appreciate life’s simple moments and be thankful for what you have. Be grateful for opportunities, experiences, relationships, and lessons. Gratitude helps you gain perspective and stay humble.
Avoid entitlement; do not feel entitled to rewards, success, or special treatment. Earn your way through hard work and perseverance. Appreciate each opportunity and do not take things for granted. Feel grateful for what you achieve instead of expecting more. An entitled attitude breeds arrogance, not humility.
Focus on Others: Shift your focus from yourself to others. Show interest in learning about people and understanding different perspectives. Offer help without expectation of reward or praise. Find purpose through enriching the lives of others in your own small way. A selfless attitude is a hallmark of humility.
Your attitude and outlook on life significantly impact your ability to develop humility. With practice and conscious effort, you can cultivate an attitude that fosters openness, gratitude, and connection with others. In turn, you will gain wisdom, perspective, and humility.
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5. Character
Your character defines who you are at your core. Developing a humble character takes conscious effort and time. Some key attributes that shape a humble character include:
Acceptance of Yourself and Others: Accept that you have both strengths and weaknesses, and so do others. Focus on improving yourself rather than judging others. Learn to appreciate people for who they are. This open and non- judgmental attitude fosters humbleness.
Willingness to Learn: Approach life with an open and curious mindset. Accept that you do not know everything and be willing to learn from every situation and person you encounter. Continuous learning and improving yourself keeps you grounded in humility.
Compassion and Kindness: Treat all people with compassion, kindness, and respect regardless of their background or status. Make others feel valued and help them in times of need. Genuine care for people beyond yourself contributes to a humble character.
Authenticity: Be true to your values and morals. Do not pretend to be someone you are not just to please others or gain status. Present your authentic self to the world with confidence and grace. People will respect you more for it, and you will respect yourself.
Perspective; Maintain a balanced perspective of yourself and your abilities. Do not think too highly or too lowly of yourself. Compare yourself to your past self, not to others. Understand your strengths and weaknesses objectively and work to improve each day. A balanced self-perception is key to a humble character.
Developing a humble character is a journey. But by cultivating these attributes, being conscious of how you view yourself and treat others, and always striving to learn and improve, you put yourself on the path to becoming your best and most humble self.
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6. Perspective
The way you view the world around you has a significant impact on your humility. When you recognize that you’re just one small part of a much bigger whole, it helps put your own life and accomplishments into perspective.
Rather than thinking the world revolves around you, consider how your actions might affect others and be open to different opinions and experiences. Try stepping into another person’s shoes to gain a new viewpoint. Ask yourself questions like: “How would I feel if I were in their position?” This can help build empathy and compassion for people from all walks of life.
Your environment and upbringing also shape your perspective. If you grew up in a culture that values community over individualism, you may naturally develop a more humble outlook. Religious beliefs that emphasize service, forgiveness and equality can also foster humility.
The place you call home influences your worldview as well. Living in an area with extreme poverty or natural disasters exposes you to human suffering and the fragility of life. This can cultivate appreciation for what you have and a sense of shared humanity. In contrast, places with a fast pace of life or a highly competitive culture may fuel more ego-centric thinking.
The role models and mentors you choose provide a compass for the type of person you want to become. Surrounding yourself with humble, open-minded people who lift others up will positively impact your own humility over time through their example. Their wise advice and life experiences can inspire you to let go of pride and see beyond yourself.
In the end, developing a humble perspective comes down to making a conscious effort to challenge self-centered patterns of thinking. Broaden your view of the world by opening your mind to new ideas and by serving others. This will help you gain wisdom and lead a more meaningful life.
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7. Beliefs
Your beliefs shape how you view yourself and the world around you. Humble people tend to hold certain beliefs that contribute to their humble mindset and character.
For example, humble individuals believe that every person has intrinsic worth, regardless of their perceived status or accomplishments. They see all people as equally deserving of dignity and respect. This belief fosters compassion and kindness towards others.
Humble people also believe that there is always more to learn. They recognize that knowledge and expertise are vast, and no one person can achieve complete mastery or understanding. This belief cultivates an open and curious mindset, as well as appreciation for the wisdom and experiences of others.
Relatedly, humble people believe that their own knowledge and abilities are limited. They know that the world is complex, and there will always be perspectives and skills outside of their expertise. This belief prevents arrogance and closed-mindedness. Humble people remain open to feedback and continuous learning.
Another common belief is that life’s circumstances are often outside of one’s control. While hard work and perseverance matter, luck and random chance also play a role in outcomes and events. This belief prevents an exaggerated sense of entitlement or ownership over achievements and fortune. It encourages gratitude and compassion.
In summary, humble beliefs revolve around embracing life’s uncertainties and complexities. Humble people recognize that there are limits to human knowledge and control. But within those Smits, every person deserves dignity and respect. These beliefs cultivate openness, curiosity, gratitude, and compassion—all hallmarks of a humble spirit.
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8. Culture and Social norms
The culture you grow up in and the social norms around you can have a big impact on developing humility. If you live in a society that values traits like modesty, respect, and community over individualism, it’s more likely that you’ll adopt those traits yourself.
For example, many Eastern cultures emphasize harmony, deference to others, and minimizing ego. These cultural values often translate to more humble behaviors and mindsets. In contrast, Western cultures typically promote more individualistic values like ambition, competitiveness, and self- promotion. While these aren’t inherently bad, they can encourage less humble attitudes if taken to an extreme.
The religious and spiritual beliefs you’re exposed to as a child also shape your views on humility. Religions like Christianity, Buddhism, and Hinduism all emphasize virtues such as modesty, selflessness, and recognizing your smallness in the grand scheme of things. Growing up with these faiths and beliefs makes humility feel like an important moral value and spiritual practice.
Your role models and the people around you every day have an enormous influence too. If you see parents, teachers, and community leaders behaving with humility, compassion, and kindness, you’re more likely to follow in their footsteps. Their example shows you firsthand the power that humility and selflessness can have to inspire and bring people together.
In the end, while culture and environment play a role, you always have a choice in who you become. You can reject certain social norms and choose to develop humility through conscious effort and practice. But recognizing the influences around you, both good and bad, helps you understand why you think and act the way you do—and how you might grow into your most humble, virtuous self.
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9. Religion
Religion often instills a sense of humility in people. When you believe in a higher power or greater purpose, it’s hard not to feel small in comparison. Many faiths teach values like compassion, mercy, and forgiveness which cultivate humility.
In Christianity, for example, humility is considered a virtue. Followers are taught that “blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). The Bible instructs Christians to “in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves” (Philippians 2:3). Recognizing your Insignificance before God can inspire humility.
In Buddhism, the core belief is that attachment to ego causes suffering. Buddhists practice mindfulness, meditation, and acts of service to transcend the self. This helps Buddhists develop humility, patience, and wisdom.
In Islam, humility is also an important virtue. Muslims follow teachings in the Quran such as “And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth easily, and when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say [words of peace.” (Quran 25:63). This inspires Muslims to react with humility, gentleness and forgiveness even when confronted rudely.
Wherever your faith lies, reflecting on spiritual teachings about humility, compassion, and selflessness can help cultivate those qualities in yourself. Recognizing your smallness in the grand scale of the universe, and your connection to all other beings, makes egotism and arrogance difficult to maintain. A strong faith often comes with humility.
Faith in something greater than yourself can inspire you to let go of ego and judgment. It allows you to open your heart to others with empathy, patience and kindness. This leads to peace within yourself and harmony with those around you.
10. Environment: The Place Where You Live
The environment you grow up in plays a significant role in developing humility. When you’re surrounded by modest, down-to-earth people in a community that values humility, you’re more likely to adopt those traits yourself.
If you grew up in a small town or rural area, you probably learned early on not to get too boastful or think too highly of yourself. Neighbors and friends keep each other grounded. There’s an emphasis on hard work, faith, family and community over individual achievements or status.
In some cultures and religious faiths, humility is also prized as a virtue. If you were raised in a culture where humility, modesty and a “we’re all in this together mindset were instilled from an early age, you’ve had a lifetime of experience in valuing others over yourself.
The socioeconomic environment you were raised in can also shape your perspective on humility. Those who grew up in less privileged circumstances often gain an appreciation for life’s simple pleasures and a “there but for the grace of God go I view of those less fortunate. You learn not to take things for granted.
Our role models and mentors as we’re growing up have an enormous influence over us. If you had parents, teachers, coaches or community leaders who modeled humility, kindness and a servant’s heart, their example likely left a lasting impression. We tend to emulate the behavior and attitudes of those we admire.
In the end, humility comes from walking in another’s shoes, seeing life from multiple perspectives, and realizing our shared humanity. An environment that exposes you to these insights from an early age is fertile ground for the growth of humility.
11. Role Models, Mentors, and People Around them
The people around you, especially role models and mentors, have a big influence on whether or not you develop humility. When you have examples of humble, down-to-earth people in your life, it shapes your perspective and behavior in a positive way.
- Role models and mentors set an example of how to treat others with kindness, respect and empathy. They don’t seek the spotlight or demand attention, but instead try to lift others up. You learn by their example.
- If your parents, teachers, coaches or other adults in your life prioritized serving others over seeking praise or status, it teaches you that humility is a strength, not a weakness.
- Seeing people you admire and respect behave humbly helps you realize that humility is an admirable quality itself. It shows emotional maturity, self-awareness and a lack of ego.
- When humble people provide guidance or mentorship to you as a child or young adult, their wisdom and advice tends to stick with you. Their influence shapes your values and identity.
- Even casual interactions with humble people expand your worldview and teach you that the world is bigger than your own concerns or desires. It shows you the importance of connecting with others on a human level.
In the end, role models, mentors and the people around us from a young age play an outsized role in shaping whether or not we develop the virtue of humility. Their examples, guidance and influence stick with us and continue informing who we strive to become.
12. Experiences about Hardships and Failures
Hardships and failures have a way of humbling even the proudest of people. When life knocks you down and forces you to face your vulnerabilities and limitations, it can teach valuable lessons in humility. Experiencing difficulties and setbacks with grace can help develop:
- Perspective – Hard times put your problems into perspective. You realize that struggles are a common human experience and your challenges are not unique. This universalizes your situation and reduces your sense of self-importance.
- Gratitude – After enduring hardship, you often feel grateful for the good things in your life that you previously took for granted. This shifts your focus outward to appreciate what you have instead of what you lack.
- Compassion – Suffering creates empathy for the suffering of others. You realize that people struggling might be going through experiences similar to your own. This fosters compassion and a desire to help lift others up.
- Self-awareness – Failures force you to confront your weaknesses and limitations, exposing areas for growth. This reveals truths about yourself that you might have otherwise avoided, increasing your self-knowledge.
- Humility – Ultimately, hard times teach that you are not in control and do not have all the answers. You realize your need for wisdom beyond your own and for the help and grace of others. This breeds a sense of humility.
While difficult, hardships and failures, if faced with openness and a growth mindset, can cultivate the perspective, wisdom, and humility that lie at the heart of true humility. The pain of life’s setbacks shapes our character in ways that comfort and ease cannot.
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Final Thought
True humility comes from an accurate view of ourselves – one that is neither inflated by pride nor deflated by shame. It recognizes our strengths alongside our weaknesses and sees our humanity as something to celebrate rather than cover up. Humility allows us to connect with others from a place of honesty, openness and compassion. It berates us from the need to prove ourselves and instead motivates us simply to be of service. Humility is the soil from which virtues like wisdom, love and courage grow.
Cultivating humility takes patience, persistence and grace – with ourselves and others. The journey begins by reflecting honestly on our experiences, struggles and shortcomings. It continues as we choose openness over defensiveness, listening over arguing and serving over seeking praise. True humility comes not from thinking less of ourselves, but from thinking of ourselves less. Our lives then become less about securing our own status and more about contributing to the good of others and the world.
References
- Melissa Gouty , Does Humility Still Exist in a World Focused on Social and Self Promotion? Updated: Apr 11, 2023
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