Humility in Health: The Missing Piece

Tracy The Health Coach
May 6
4 min read

We live in a world full of health information—yet health outcomes are not improving as we would expect. People are still struggling with consistency, unsure where to start, and often overwhelmed by conflicting advice. Add to that limited support at home, work environments filled with unhealthy options, and social norms that don’t prioritise wellbeing—it’s no surprise many feel stuck.

But there’s another factor we don’t often talk about:

Humility.

Are We Open to Help?

How many times have you been given advice by a doctor or health professional… and not followed it?

Sometimes it’s not about being too busy or unmotivated. Sometimes, we quietly feel:

“That won’t work for me.”
“I know my body better.”
“I’ve tried before—it won’t make a difference.”

And sometimes that may be valid. You do know yourself. But if that leads to doing nothing at all, then something important is being missed.

I remember during my long COVID recovery being told to walk for 20 minutes. I knew I couldn’t do that because I could not even stand for 5 minutes—so I didn’t do anything. It wasn’t until a doctor explained why movement mattered that I found my own way: walking from one end of my living room to the other, then gradually building up by 2 minutes every 2 weeks. This worked for me. That small shift made all the difference. Today, 6 years later, I can walk easily for 2 hours.

The issue wasn’t the advice—it was how I received it.

When Pride Blocks Progress

When we feel we know everything—or more than the professional supporting us—we close ourselves off.

And that’s not a good place to be.

Not because you’re wrong, but because it limits your ability to be helped.

Sometimes, when we insist things must be done our way, it raises a deeper question:

Are we resisting help?
Or are we not ready for it—but don’t know how to say it?

Honesty matters here.

It’s okay to say:

“I’m not ready yet.”
“I’m struggling with this.”
“I’ve tried before and it didn’t work.”
“I don't see how this will work for me"

That’s not failure—that’s awareness. And it gives your health professional something real to work with.

Wanting To Know Exactly How It Will Play Out

One of the biggest challenges in making changes to our health is that we walk by sight, meaning we want to see and know exactly how everything will work out before we begin. We want certainty from the start. But health doesn’t work like that.

Many of my clients will tell you—they came for weight loss, but what they gained went far beyond that. Increased confidence, feeling comfortable in their own body, even being able to change freely and confidently in front of their spouse—something they hadn’t even realised was an issue until it changed.

They came for a visible tangible result, but experienced deeper, more personal transformation, intangible results, yes plural.

That’s the reality of this journey.

Some of the most powerful results are intangible—and you only discover them once you begin. When we work together, you get out what you put in. Which means it’s difficult to predict exactly how things will unfold. It depends on your level of commitment, your openness, and your willingness to engage in the process.

It also depends on awareness.

Sometimes, you don’t fully see the extent of what’s been affecting you until something changes. Just like that client—she didn’t realise she had been holding onto body discomfort until she experienced confidence.

That’s why wanting to “see or know exactly how it will go” can keep you stuck.

Because some of the best outcomes…are the ones you can’t see yet.

Humility is a Partnership

We no longer live in a world where you’re simply told what to do.

Good healthcare is a partnership:

You bring your lived experience
They bring their training and expertise

You don’t tell a surgeon how to operate—but you ask questions, express concerns, to get clarity and work together on what’s realistic for you. Humility is important because it helps you be vulnerable to say what you want, what you don't want and what you fear. When you express your fear, you soon realise that many people feel the same and this is how your health professional can give you the reassurance you need. This is how trust grows. When humility is present, trust can grow. When trust grows, change becomes possible and nothing will hold you back.

Mental Health Matters Too

During Mental Health Awareness, this becomes even more important.

If humility is absent, we may not seek help when we’re struggling. We may convince ourselves we can handle it alone.

But avoiding support doesn’t remove the struggle—it often deepens it.

Reaching out, asking as many questions as you need to, and allowing yourself to be supported is not weakness. It’s wisdom.

4 Ways to Practice Humility in Your Health

1. Stay curious, not closed

Instead of dismissing advice, ask: “How could this work for me?”

Why: This keeps you open to solutions rather than stuck in assumptions. Assumptions are one of the greatest killers in our health (and even relationships but I digress).

2. Be honest about where you are

If you’re not ready or struggling, say it.

Why: This allows support to be tailored to you, rather than forcing something unrealistic.

3. Try before you decide

Why: Your experience may surprise you.

Don’t reject something you haven’t explored. Give it a fair chance. When booking a holiday, you will look at tripadvisor and such reviews, before you make a decision. Do the same for your health. Don't dismiss on a whim. Somebody's negative experience doesn't dictate you will have the same. Some people are not open e.g., to counselling or don't put in the work required, so their feedback will be skewed and not be a good indicator of the efficacy of that service/professional.

4. Accept support as a strength

You don’t have to do this alone.

Why: Professionals can help you see blind spots and guide you forward faster.