Practicing humility offers a range of psychological and physical benefits that contribute to overall well-being. Psychologically, humility enhances emotional resilience, helping individuals recover from setbacks by fostering acceptance and reducing self-critical thoughts. It improves emotional regulation, lowers stress and anxiety, and promotes realistic self-assessment, which leads to healthier coping strategies and reduced defensiveness. Humble individuals tend to form stronger relationships due to increased empathy, active listening, and openness to others’ perspectives. Physically, these psychological benefits can translate into better health outcomes by reducing stress-related ailments and encouraging supportive social networks. Humility also supports personal growth, spiritual well-being, and a balanced sense of self, making it a powerful yet often overlooked trait for mental and physical health. Need help practicing? See below!
Wright et al. (2017) – This article in The Journal of Positive Psychology discusses the psychological significance of humility, defining it as a virtue that fosters emotional resilience, openness to feedback, and interpersonal harmony. It emphasizes humility’s role in reducing defensiveness and enhancing self-awareness.
- Citation: Wright, J. C., Nadelhoffer, T., Perini, T., Langville, A., Echols, M., & Venezia, K. (2017). The psychological significance of humility. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 12(1), 3–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2016.1167940 [psycnet.apa.org]
Ross & Wright (2021) – This study in Psychological Reports found that humility correlates with lower depression and anxiety, higher happiness, love of life, and self-efficacy. It also links humility to personality traits like conscientiousness and openness.
- Citation: Ross, L. T., & Wright, J. C. (2021). Humility, personality, and psychological functioning. Psychological Reports, 0(0), 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1177/00332941211062819 [researchgate.net]
Tangney (2012) – In The Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology, humility is described as a multifaceted construct involving accurate self-assessment and a “forgetting of the self,” contributing to psychological balance and interpersonal effectiveness.
- Citation: Tangney, J. P. (2012). Humility. In The Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology (pp. 483–490). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195187243.013.0046 [academic.oup.com]
Van Tongeren & Myers (2017) – This review in Current Directions in Psychological Science highlights humility’s role in acknowledging biases, fostering openness, and prioritizing others’ well-being, which supports mental health and social functioning.
- Citation: Van Tongeren, D. R., & Myers, D. G. (2017). Humility. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 28(5), 463–468. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721419850153 [jstor.org]