How do you respond to praise? Do you downplay every compliment you receive, brushing off praise with a humble shrug and a “Who, me? Oh, I’m nothing special”? Do you reject any acknowledgment of your gifts or achievements, insisting that you’re just doing your part?
While it might seem like you’re practicing humility, there’s a sneaky little trap here that can lead us away from true humility and into something less virtuous: false humility.
Let’s start by clearing up what humility really is. True humility is about recognizing the truth of who we are—both our strengths and weaknesses—and giving glory to God for all of it. St. Teresa of Ávila nailed it when she said, “Humility is truth.” It’s about acknowledging our talents as gifts from God and using them to serve others without becoming puffed up with pride.
False humility is when we pretend to be less than we are or refuse to acknowledge the gifts God has given us.
It might look like humility on the surface, but it’s actually a twisted form of pride. Why? Because false humility is still focused on ourselves—how we appear to others, how we don’t want to be seen as proud. It’s a subtle way of keeping the spotlight on us, even if it’s in a negative light.
Think of the parable of the talents in the Gospel of Matthew (25:14-30). The servant who buried his talent didn’t do so out of humility, but out of fear and a misunderstanding of his master’s generosity. True humility would have driven him to use that talent to the best of his ability, trusting that his master would be pleased with his efforts.
So, how do we avoid the trap of false humility? Start by being honest with yourself and with God. When someone praises you for something you’ve done well, accept it graciously, and then direct that praise where it truly belongs—back to God. Remember,as C.S. Lewis said, “humility isn’t about thinking less of yourself; it’s about thinking of yourself less.”
In the end, it’s about living in the truth of who God made you to be. And that’s the most humble—and holy—thing you can do.
But there’s a reason real humility is difficult—it requires self-knowledge, which is hard to come by! However, there’s a great book that can help you grow in self-knowledge and humility. Know Thyself is an invaluable resource for our prideful age. Adapted from Rev. Fr. Cajetan da Bergamo’s classic Humility of Heart and supplemented with writings from the saints and powerful Scripture passages, Know Thyself is a collection of 100 guided meditations on true humility. Order your copy today from The Catholic Company!
