People with true humility exhibit these 8 traits

In a world where everyone’s chasing the next big thing and egos can run wild, we often forget about good ol’ humility. It’s an unsung hero, a bit of an underdog really, but boy does it pack a punch.

Take a moment, shake off the glitz and glam of worldly desires and you might just notice that what we’re all truly searching for is a little peace and quiet in our minds. And guess what? Humility can get you there.

Humility is like an anchor in a storm. No matter how hard the winds of life blow, it keeps us steady and true to ourselves.

And here’s the real magic of it: humility helps us create meaningful bonds with others and learn lessons that are worth their weight in gold. It’s a secret sauce for genuine success and lasting happiness.

So, if you’re looking to sprinkle a bit of humility in your life, here are some traits you’ll find in those who really have mastered it:

1. They’ve Got Self-Awareness in Spades

You know when you think about humble folks, some faces probably pop up in your mind, right?

These people tend to be some of the most real, most genuine folks you’ve ever come across.

You won’t catch them jazzing up tales at parties to make themselves the star, or twisting every conversation to be all about them.

Nope, the truly humble know who they are, and they’re cool with it. They don’t lose sleep over trying to be someone they’re not.

One thing I’ve noticed about these down-to-earth folks is that they have this super keen sense of self-awareness.

It’s like they’re tuned into their own radio station, always working on understanding themselves better.

And because of that, they become more secure, more grounded, more… humble.

Self-awareness is like holding up a mirror to yourself and accepting what you see – the good, the bad, and the messy.

It’s understanding that your worth isn’t determined by what others think of you, but how you perceive and love yourself.

When you’ve got that down, you focus more on becoming a better version of yourself, rather than trying to project some picture-perfect image for others to admire.

It’s all about the real you, not the Instagram-filtered you.

2. They Don’t Play the Superiority Game

You’ve probably bumped into folks who, let’s be honest, leave a sour taste in your mouth.

You know the type: always hogging the limelight, talking non-stop about themselves, and subtly (or not so subtly) making you feel like they’re a cut above you.

Maybe they poke fun at your insecurities, or dish out backhanded compliments under the guise of “just being concerned”.

Truth is, they’re just masking their own insecurities by acting like they’re on top of the world.

It’s not about being better; it’s about feeling better. But you know what? That’s not the humble way.

Humble peeps don’t need to blow their own trumpet or exaggerate their awesomeness. They don’t need to put others down to lift themselves up.

They’re the listeners, the learners, the connectors. They’re more interested in getting to know you and drawing wisdom from your experiences. They’re all about building bridges, not pedestals.

3. They’re Total Team Players

From my experience, humble folks are some of the best people to have on your side at work.

They throw themselves into their tasks, not because they’re itching to be the star of the show or the smartest one in the room, but because they genuinely want to learn and up their game.

So what does that make them? Reliable team members, that’s what.

They get the job done, no drama, no fuss, just a solid commitment to producing great results.

They’re all about the collective effort, putting the ‘we’ before the ‘me’.

They’re also pretty good at giving and receiving feedback – always looking for ways to improve and more than happy to take constructive criticism on the chin.

And don’t expect them to go on and on about their achievements – they’re happy to let their work speak for itself.

Let me give you an example. I once worked on a proposal with a colleague, a tough project that put us both through our paces.

But she was an absolute dream to work with. Open to different ideas, spoke her thoughts in a respectful manner, and totally nailed her part of the job.

When our bosses gave feedback on the part I’d worked on, she didn’t point fingers or lay blame.

She gracefully took on board the comments and did her part to tweak the pitch deck. Now that’s what I call a true team player.

4. They Keep an Open Mind

One thing I’ve spotted about humble folks is they’re usually pretty open-minded. They don’t freak out when they come across something or someone they don’t know about yet.

They’ve got this knack for respecting differences and not jumping to conclusions about others without understanding their perspective first.

They get it – people live differently, and that’s perfectly okay.

So why is that? My best guess is that they’re not scared off by difference.

They don’t sweat the small stuff they don’t know because they understand that no one can know it all.

Humility is like a reality check that reminds them that everyone has their own worth and that doesn’t diminish their own value one bit.

In fact, you’ll often find humble people leaning in to learn about things they’re not familiar with. They’re all ears, ready to soak up something new.

5. They Can Walk a Mile in Your Shoes

Ever poured your heart out to someone and felt totally seen and understood? That’s what it feels like to open up to someone humble.

They have this beautiful ability to see the world from your perspective and get where you’re coming from.

Since they’re not all wrapped up in their own world, they’ve got the emotional bandwidth to genuinely empathize with others.

They’re like top-notch listeners, able to feel your pain as if it were their own.

Chatting with them feels like stepping into a safe zone. They’ve got your back and they’re not afraid to tell you if you’re stepping out of line – but they’ll do it with kindness and patience.

They won’t stand for wrongdoing, but they also won’t judge you for it. It’s no wonder that your most trusted confidants are usually the humble ones, not the bigheaded braggarts.

I learned this the hard way when I found myself in a toxic relationship. The only person I could really open up to was a friend who was known for her soft-spoken, grounded demeanor.

Even when I was pushing everyone away and self-destructing, she never stopped reaching out and checking in on me. Now that’s a true friend.

6. They’re the Epitome of Cool and Collected

There’s something about humble folks that’s just so soothing. They’ve got this aura of tranquility and grace that radiates from them like a warm, comforting glow.

And it’s genuine – they’re not putting on a show. You can see it in their sincere greetings and the way they treat people.

I’ve never seen a humble person fly off the handle or react impulsively. It’s like they have this internal pause button that lets them process their thoughts before they act or speak.

Their empathy and self-awareness help them keep a check on their words and actions, making sure they’re not just spewing out whatever comes to mind or doing something without thinking about the fallout.

One of the secrets to their serenity is their acceptance that everyone messes up sometimes, and that’s alright.

They know that nobody’s perfect and mistakes are just part of the learning process.

It’s like they’ve made peace with the idea of imperfection and that gives them an air of calm and grace.

7. They Value Principles Over Flashy Distractions

Here’s another cool thing about humble folks: they’re not easily dazzled by the shiny stuff of life that can make us lose sight of what truly matters.

They’re not about to trade in their principles for a quick thrill or an easy win.

You won’t find them cutting corners or going against their values just to get ahead.

Instead, they place their self-worth way above shallow rewards or hollow ideas of success and happiness.

They’re on a quest to live a life of integrity, always keeping their principles front and center.

Humility gives them this contentment with what they’ve got and the hope for what they can achieve through good old-fashioned hard work and perseverance.

8. They’re Not Scared to Own Their Mistakes

One thing that really stands out about humble people is their willingness to hold their hands up and say, “Yep, I messed up.”

They’re not about to play the blame game or fib their way out of it. They spot their slip-ups, learn from them, and take full responsibility. They’ll even go the extra mile to set things right.

I’ve had my own humbling experience with this. A friend confided in me and I responded in a way that was, looking back, pretty insensitive, even though I meant well.

She subtly hinted that I didn’t get it and swiftly changed the subject. We carried on as though nothing had happened.

It took me a while, but I eventually clocked that I’d been too harsh and it hit me hard.

I could’ve just shrugged it off and pretended it didn’t happen, but I decided to apologize and promised to be more sensitive in the future.

I get it, admitting you’re in the wrong is tough. You’ve got to face feelings of shame and guilt, depending on how big a deal your mistake was.

But for the truly humble, these missteps are valuable lessons that help them grow into better people.