Have you ever just been doing your own thing as usual, or done something to help another person, not thinking it was a big deal at all, only for other people to express how impressed they are by you?
If you’re immensely gifted in some way or you’re a humble hero in disguise, there are undoubtedly several things you do that draw admiration from others — especially if you genuinely downplay them as “nothing”. See if any of the following seem familiar to you:
1. Being generous towards others.
We lost a beloved animal companion a couple of years ago, and my partner’s friend (who happens to live nearby) raced over almost immediately with a basket of cheese, wine, other snacks, and a beautiful sympathy card. While this type of behavior is second nature to her — as it’s something she and her family members have always done — it meant the world to my partner, who was completely distraught with grief.
Many people don’t realize just how much of an impact the actions they see as “no big deal” can have on those around them. Sometimes, a small act of kindness, patience, or generosity can quite literally save someone when they’re going through a hardship that they haven’t fully admitted to.
2. Pushing through adversity with modesty rather than bragging.
It seems that nowadays many people want gold stars and rewards for doing basic tasks, let alone triumphing over real adversity. This is probably why those who muddle through and achieve things despite overwhelming obstacles and don’t brag about their achievements are viewed with such admiration.
Those who are modest, who downplay the things they do instead of standing on a plinth and demanding to be recognized, will always be treated with far more respect than those who insist upon having their every action validated and rewarded.
3. Fairness in your dealings with both people you like and those you don’t get on with well.
It’s easy to be fair and noble with people you get along with well, and a completely different story to treat those you dislike with the same courtesy and fairness. It speaks volumes about who you are and the quality of your character when you and an acquaintance don’t get on, yet you still treat them with fairness, courtesy, and a degree of respect.
People generally expect to be mistreated by those they don’t get along well with, so it’s a pleasant surprise when someone can acknowledge that they’ll never be friends, but they’ll still treat them well. In fact, an enemy who’s treated well can end up being far more loyal and dependable than a friend who takes such behavior for granted.
4. Helping people in need (especially strangers).
If someone gets hurt and a person calls for an ambulance and stays with that individual until help arrives, they’re often applauded and treated like heroes — even if all they did was hold this person’s hand or sit beside them to make sure they were okay.
If you’re a decent human being who does things like this on the regular, others may respect you and hold you in high regard because they admire your actions. To you, however, it’s just something that anyone would do for someone in need. It’s no big deal in your eyes, but to those around you — particularly those who prefer not to get involved or who get caught up in the “bystander effect” — you’re worthy of adulation.
5. Standing your ground on your principles.
Many people feel that standing up for what you believe in is a total waste of time, especially if it makes you a target for other people’s ire. This is because those who do so invariably end up sacrificing things like opportunities and remaining in others’ good graces. Unfortunately, a lot of folks are quite cruel to those who defend their convictions instead of remaining silent or bowing out in favor of mob mentality. But those of high moral character will highly respect people who stand their ground instead of kowtowing.
In the long run, being steadfast in who you are and what you believe in draws a lot more approval than condemnation — among friends and potential enemies alike. By doing so, you gain a reputation for being principled and are seen as an individual who acts with consideration and integrity in relation to the world around you.
6. Going above and beyond in everything you do.
A lot of people “phone in” everything in their lives because it’s the easiest route to take. Instead of putting real effort into anything, they’ll put the barest amount of energy towards it that they can get away with, and call it a job well done. As such, when someone gains a reputation for constantly going above and beyond (both in their own affairs and how they treat others), people pay attention.
In fact, not only will they admire you if you exhibit this behavior, but if they’re of equally decent character, they’ll also reciprocate it. For example, your employer may appreciate how diligent you are with your reports and give you a promotion, or your partner might express their gratitude for what you do and step up their own efforts in kind.
What you’re doing may be standard behavior for you, but it means the world to those who’ve only ever received the barest minimum from the people in their lives thus far.
7. Capability in your chosen field.
Most of us are impressed when we come across someone who’s a master in their chosen field. I know I’ve been blown away by people who can do massive feats of strength and physical capability, can speak multiple languages, or play an instrument like they spent 100 lifetimes perfecting that art.
You’re likely a fan of incredibly capable people as well, and perhaps it doesn’t occur to you that others are just as impressed by the things that you can do, which they can’t. You may have skills that are no big deal to you because you do them every day, but someone else dreams of being half as skilled as you are, and might take decades to master what you practically do in your sleep.
8. Being immensely self-sufficient.
A lot of people get swoony when they come across a person who’s able to do just about anything for themselves. These are the individuals you want on your zombie apocalypse team because with their help, you’ll all undoubtedly survive.
Other people may be terribly impressed that you can put together an outdoor stove and prepare a gourmet meal from items you’ve foraged from the woods, entertain them with a flute you carved (and a song you composed!), and then get them back to safety by navigating by the constellations — all of which you can name and tell tales about. What’s no big deal to you, what you downplay as “nothing”, can be terribly impressive to many others.
Final thoughts…
Whenever someone compliments you or expresses admiration for something you do that you consider “nothing,” write down what they’ve said and put that note in a jar. On days when you doubt your capability or you’re feeling down about yourself in general, take some of those notes out and read them. Things you do and behaviors you exhibit make you someone else’s hero, even if you may not feel like one. Being reminded of that may help you on even the darkest days.
