January 31st, 2011

Lists I’ve found are a great way to explore a topic, generate some interest in a subject and provide enough variety that it is not only quick to read, but quick to relate to many aspects. All this while hopefully adding some value to what is read in new ideas, unheard suggestions or simply by giving reminders of what might be known dead inside you already. I certainly find that in reading lists from other people.

This was my most difficult list I’ve made and while I was hoping to make a list of 100 ways to be more humble, I really struggled coming up with unique ideas that didn’t have too much overlap and were not just a large list of different words or minor actions to be more humble. I hope you will find some value in this list, it has certainly given me a lot to think about, a lot to still learn in being humble and an eye opener to realize how far from this I actually am. While I hope many of these are true in my life, I know they are a continuous struggle and I’m sure others can relate or add even more ideas to the list, which I would love to see in your comments!

Please have a look at my short series from 2 years ago on being humble in the article pages here or from the free PDF download in my resources area, called, Being Humble.

Use the response “It’s My Pleasure” when someone thanks you for doing something. Use the response “I’d be honored” when someone asks you to help them or do something with them. Listen more than you talk Count to 3 before adding to a conversation to ensure the other person is done Be willing to follow another person in conversation even if you don’t get to talk about your idea Always offer to improve someone else’s idea and give them credit Give credit for other’s ideas that you are carrying through on Ask others for the opinion of others Ask others to join conversations and contribute It’s OK to be wrong and so admit it Admit when you don’t understand or know something Appreciate others who learn something quickly and say so Be quick to apologize when you do something wrong Study moral principles Use moral principles to guide you You are God’s creation, not your own Recognize your talents as gifts, not your own ability Know how your skills have only be developed by the help of others Share your own knowledge to pass on what you have learned Pass on thanks when you receive it to those who helped you achieve what was thanked Value other people’s time as much as your own Never equate time spent with people to a dollar value Don’t boast about your achievements, let others recognize them instead Keep your goals to yourself Help other people with their goals Realize the potential in others Know that timing is everything and everyone excels at different times in life Being the 1st follower is often the best way to lead Since winning isn’t everything, you don’t have to win Recognize that you have faults Remember you are a sinner (in other words, you are no better or worse than anyone else) Ignore first impressions of people Give others the benefit of the doubt Provide positive and encouraging feedback instead of criticism Make a choice to act more humbly Practice at least one humble act each day Be grateful for successes without boasting about them Know how to accept praise with a simple thank you, don’t elaborate on it or talk more about it Recognize the individualism of others and yourself, there is no need to conform Share your core values and live them accordingly regardless of the circumstances Prioritize things in your life and rate your actions on whether to followed that priority or not Rate other people as first, be less significant Forgive those who wrong you and move on without revenge or lashing back Serve others and not yourself first Seek wisdom, which is knowledge of what is true coupled with just judgment of action Recognize and know that you know little and there is always more to learn Avoid explosive reactions, and subside any aggression Accept new ideas and change, not being stuck on what you knew before Teach all that you can for the benefit of others Learn from and model the life of the most humble teachers in history (Jesus, Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Buddha, etc)

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