How much pride are you secretly harbouring?

Whilst it is important to acknowledge our achievements, we can fall foul of having too much pride. Pride can cause us to hold back from asking for help when we need it, pride can influence our feelings of self-righteousness – only seeing the wrong in others and being in denial about our own wrong doing. Pride can creep in when we are not paying attention to our growing need to be right whatever the cost. Pride creeps in when we give too much thought as to what others think about us.

After graduating, I continued working part-time as a cashier at a well-known UK supermarket whilst looking for full-time employment. I requested for overtime hours to increase my monthly income. Some of my shifts were during the weekday and I recall feeling anxious about bumping into an acquaintance. What if they assume this is my full-time job? What if they assume I did not enter further education? All these thoughts consumed me all those years ago. Pride was rearing its ugly head. I was definitely insecure at this stage in my life and tended to over think far too much. I knew what the issue was but was not emotionally equipped to deal with it.

If pride is not dealt with, it can soon become a big part of you. I can assure you I have had to deal with pride a high number of times since then. I recognised pride for what it was – denial brings no benefits to us.

How can we deal with pride?

1. Maintain a level of humility. Scripture Proverbs 27 verse 2 states:
“Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips.”

2. Refrain from judging others who differ in opinion and lifestyle. This is easier said than done but there is something powerful about accepting others despite their differences.

3. Look inwards and work on your insecurities as often pride derives from these.

4. Encourage and invest in others taking the focus of self.

How have you dealt with pride in your life?
What advice would you give to others?

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