Why Being “Humble” Is not Always What you Think It Is

February 4, 2023

Being humble may not mean what you think it is. Tyler will explain what it means to be humble, and why you should only be humble the way you can show confidence in your true self.

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is it good to be humble today we're going to talk a little bit about the principle of humility the attribute of humility and whether or not it's a good thing to pursue it is it a weakness or is it a strength what's going on you guys today we're talking about the principle of humility this is a topic that I love to talk about because I think it's one of the most misunderstood words in our culture today when you think of the word humble what comes to mind most people hear the word humble and they think of things like softness weakness being trampled on being a doormat being bad being weak all of those things are things that the world describes as humility and today I want to talk a little bit about a different way to view what humility actually is so most people think that humility is this kind of a thing that when someone comes and gives you a compliment you put yourself below the compliment below the person by not accepting that compliment or downplaying or saying it's not true in some ways we think that humility is actually beating ourselves up or disagreeing with the truth about the goodness inside of us when somebody recognizes it and when we do that we're actually fueling shame into our lives we're making ourselves less likely to be proactive with continuing to do good in the world we make ourselves more likely to want to numb out in our lives because we're operating from a place of actual shame so the world's definition of humility is is that we have to put ourselves down we have to not accept our goodness and we end up feeling more shame more like depression in our lives as a result of trying to be humble and I'd like for you to consider a new definition of humility and this is a definition that I operate from and I think it's a really good way of understanding the principle of humility humility is coming to a place of acceptance of the truth about everything that I am I'm able to accept both the good things the positive things the strengths that I have I'm able to accept the weaknesses and the limitations that I have and know that they're true about me and I can get into the reality of who I am that's humility humility is an acceptance of everything that God says about me so so if I'm going to look at my weaknesses I have to be willing to accept my strengths and when I can operate from that place where both things are true look at the power that it gives me it gives me a chance to look at my weaknesses and now instead of just beating myself up and thinking I'm a failure because it's no good anymore it's just the reality of my limitations and I get to make choice about what to do with those limitations and I can also accept the great things about myself not by being better than somebody else that's not humility humility is the acceptance of the truth so I happen to be a therapist who is pretty good at my job for what I do and helping people overcome trauma overcome addictions I can accept that as truth without being arrogant about it and when I accept that as truth it then allows those attributes inside of me to reach into the lives of other people and provide something good for them instead of taking all of those good things it's like the scripture says you know men don't light a Candlestick and put it under a bushel when you have certain light that light was designed to show it to the world and in showing it to the world you're offering those around you a gift so challenge again to think about that word humility is it a good thing to have in your life I would suggest that if you operate from the definition of acceptance of everything that you are your weaknesses and your strengths that living from a place of humility is one of the best things that you can do to work towards a life of power a life of connection a life of Vibrance and a life of influence in the lives of other people so give that a consideration take a look at your life and how you're treating yourself are you operating from the world's definition of humility or from the true definition of humility you guys have a great day thank you so much for being here with me if you found this to be valuable for you please hit the like And subscribe button if you're facing particular struggles that you need help with or roadblocks that you're running into please submit a question I'd be happy to answer it for you thank you [Music]

Tyler Patrick

About the author

"The Wandering Therapist"
I am a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist based in Northern Utah. I help men, women, and couple's heal their hearts and relationships from addiction and trauma. I love this process of redemption and I have faith you can experience it too.