Even if you are ’the best’ in the world at doing one thing, there are always other things that you cannot do, and may never be able to do. Recognizing your limitations does not mean abandoning your dreams, and it does not mean giving up on learning new things or improving your existing abilities. It simply means acknowledging that, as human beings, none of us are perfect and none of us can do everything by ourselves.
We make judgments about others all the time, usually without even realizing it. As a practical exercise, try to catch yourself in the act of judging another person or group of people, and whenever you do, judge yourself instead. Consider how you can improve yourself, instead of how you think others should act. After all, you cannot control other people’s decisions and behaviors - but you can control yours. Work to address your flaws. Remember that growth and improvement is a lifelong process that never stops happening, even when you’re very skilled at something.
Always remember that with a bad choice yesterday, your whole life could be different today and, furthermore, that today could be the day your good choices change your life. Though you have undoubtedly worked hard for what you have, you could not have done it all without other people’s support. Everything we do is a result of what many other people have done to us. It is all because of the people around us that we get shaped and become better persons at some point so that we could achieve our goals.
Each person can only experience a tiny sliver of life at a time. There will always be people who are older and wiser than you. Your elders’ opinions could be worth listening to, although you must make the decision based on your knowledge of them.
Admitting your mistakes will make people respect you more, whether they are your own children or your coworkers.
This doesn’t mean you should lie about achieving something; if someone asked if you ran a marathon then it’s perfectly acceptable to say ‘yes’. But don’t constantly talk about how absolutely amazing you were for running the marathon, or achieving other goals.
Do your best to always be kind to people. You never know what’s happening in someone else’s life, so try asking people what they need rather than focusing on what you want.
Share the love. Recognize others who have helped you on your path to success.
Being able to appreciate the talents and qualities of others can also help you recognize qualities that you want to improve or obtain yourself.
Every individual is unique. Appreciate people for who they are as human beings, not for their skills and appearance in relation to yours.
Instead of simply saying you are humble and as a person you will make mistakes, you should also concentrate on living with that mindset - being humble is a way of life, not a one-time action.
If you’re not into spirituality, consider the scientific method. Science requires humility. It requires that you let go of your preconceived notions and judgments and understand that you don’t know as much as you think you do.
You can be more humble by taking classes in something you know nothing about, such as pottery or screenwriting, and knowing that you will let others teach you and show you the way. This can help you realize that everyone is good at different things and we all need to help each other in order to become better people.
Ask yourself, “Do I really need to do this first so badly?” The answer will almost always be no.
Focus on the positive attributes of others instead of always looking for their flaws.
Make eye contact when you apologize to show that you really care. Don’t be a repeat offender. Apologizing about something does not give you a license to do it again. Doing so will make people distrusting of you and what you say.
Ask questions to show that you understand what the person is talking about. Don’t just wait for the person to stop talking so that you can start talking. Remember, if you’re busy thinking about what you want to say, then you’ll have a harder time focusing on what they are saying.
The jaded, “I’ve seen it all” attitude makes us feel far more important than we are. Nobody has seen it all - nobody knows it all. Be amazed like a child and you will not only be humbled; you will also be readier to learn.
Spending more time in nature will make you see how big and complicated the world is – and that you’re not at the center of it.
Yoga is all about being humble. There is no such thing as bragging about how you’ve hit a new pose in yoga. It’s all about doing everything at your own pace.
Spending more time around children will remind you of how magical the world really is.
