Forget About Yourself

• One of the simplest ways to overcome vanity is to simply forget about yourself. Although everybody thinks he is, in some way, deeply important, it helps to remember the large number of people in the world. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that as of March 2011 there were over 6.9 billion people on the planet. One person in almost 7 billion is not terribly significant in the big scheme of things. To overcome vanity in everyday life, remind yourself to study the people around you. Every time you see a friend, coworker or family member, remember you aren't any more important than she is. Go out of your way to do something nice for her.
  
  

Think About Earth

• The earth has all the right conditions for life. This led many people in the past to believe in geocentricity, the theory that the earth is the center of the universe. Geocentricity holds no scientific merit nowadays, as it is clear that the sun is the gravitational center of the solar system. Reflect on the size of the earth in relation to the entire universe. You are not the center of the earth, and even if you were, the earth is not the center of the universe. To put this to practical use, take time each day to think about the various lifeforms on earth. Pay attention to the plants and animals. Although plants may seem insignificant, you may just end up fertilizing them one day!
  
  

Care for the Needs of Others

• Once you've realized no single human is more important than anyone else, you need to express this practically. Care for the needs of others and not just your own. One of the main results of vanity is narcissistic behavior; to combat vanity, it is therefore important to combat self-gratification. Don't put your needs above the needs of others. Remember to love others as you wish to be loved. Consider volunteering for a humanitarian cause. Help out at a nursing home or hospital; by making yourself volunteer, you'll naturally begin to care more about other people.
  
  

The Equality of All Humanity

• Remember that all humans are born equal in worth. No human life is worth more than any other life. If you disbelieve this, you may descend into racism, sexism and discrimination. Adolf Hitler founded the Third Reich because he believed some humans were more valuable than other humans. By keeping in mind you are no more worthy than anybody else, you will slowly stop caring about how special you are. You will learn to leave vanity behind. To think about this practically, think about where you were born and who your parents are. Did you choose your geographical location or your parents? If not, how can you think you're special because of who you are?