Teaching Humility: Labels and Brands Do Not Define You As a Person

Teaching humility to our children is an aspect I believe is crucial in their upbringing. It is important for parents to instill in their kids the values of empathy, understanding, and kindness towards others, regardless of their circumstances or appearance. Here are a few suggestions on how parents can teach their children humility:

1. Lead by example: Children learn more from observing their parents' behavior than from any lectures. Show humility in your own actions and demonstrate empathy towards others. Let your children see you helping those in need or treating everyone with respect and kindness.

2. Encourage gratitude: Teach your children to be grateful for what they have and to appreciate the blessings in their lives. Help them understand that material possessions do not define their worth and that there are others who may be less fortunate.

3. Volunteer together: Engage your children in volunteer work or community service activities. By actively participating in helping those in need, they will develop a greater understanding of different realities and be more empathetic towards others.

4. Teach empathy: Encourage your children to put themselves in other people's shoes and consider how their actions or words may affect others. Help them understand that everyone deserves respect and that judging others based on their appearance is unfair.

5. Discuss the importance of character: Emphasize the significance of qualities such as kindness, integrity, and compassion over material possessions. Help your children understand that these traits are what truly define a person's worth.

6. Teach financial responsibility: Teach your children about the value of money and how to manage it responsibly. This includes understanding the difference between necessities and luxuries and making wise choices when it comes to spending.

7. Foster a sense of community: Encourage your children to engage with people from different backgrounds and cultures. This will help broaden their perspective and develop a greater appreciation for diversity.

Remember, teaching humility is an ongoing process that requires consistent reinforcement and modeling. By instilling these values in our children, we can help create a more compassionate and understanding society.

Author

Dr. Muhammad Zeshan My name is Muhammad Zeshan, MD, and I am a Harvard trained infant, child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist at Inside Out, a private practice based in Princeton, New Jersey. I am currently working as an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School-Newark, New Jersey. Through Inside Out CURE, my focus is to help individuals become more Compassionate, Understanding, and aware of their inner strength and vulnerabilities, while developing Resilience and Empathy. I offer a variety of mental health care services to all age groups (infancy through adulthood) by applying principals of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, positive psychology, family therapy, parent-child intervention therapy, pharmacology, and neuroscience.