False Humility: The Self-Growth Trap You NEED To Avoid

We all know that humility is a positive characteristic, so naturally, we want to be humble. In a nutshell, humility plays an important role in personal growth, self-awareness, and building healthy relationships, not to mention it’s also a good look. It’s an important characteristic to have, but let’s be honest…

Are you humble because it genuinely makes you feel good, or because it reflects well on you?

Many people want to be humble just because it’s a good look. Therefore, they end up swallowing their pride and playing the part for brownie points. But doing it just for the image leads to false humility — the appearance of being humble without actually being humble.

I don’t think anyone ever thinks “You know what? I want people to see me as a selfish asshole”. But most people want others to see us as shining beacons of light because it’s good for the ego.

In this sense, humility is often a show, it’s a mask to wear. People try to look humble, and therefore forfeit all the benefits of actually being humble. They become inauthentic — leading to disintegration and a skewed sense of self.

This is why it’s crucial to recognize false humility and take steps towards developing genuine humility. Genuinely humble people don’t perceive themselves to be more advanced or more important than anyone else. They’re simply sharing what they know, and doing it with heart.

Therefore, being humble is one thing, but it doesn’t make a difference unless you feel humble. It must be genuine because if you’re holding your tongue for the sake of looking humble, you’re not progressing. So let’s take a look at the difference between false humility and genuine humility in this article, and explore how you can embrace the latter.

What is false humility?

False humility is when you’re trying to appear humble rather than genuinely feel humble. It often involves downplaying yourself to appear modest and discretely seeking validation, approval, or recognition. It can take the form of brushing off compliments, minimizing successes, or deflecting praise while secretly hoping for recognition.