Pride vs Gratitude

“Pride is to relationships as cyanide is to health.”  I came across an amazing article today about pride and there was a section that was so powerful I had to share it.

“A pride contest has no winner because nobody likes the winner. Humans don’t respond well to being put down, and pride gives others that feeling with its “better than you” implications. Humility has the opposite effect. If you (amazing as you are) put others above yourself, they’ll feel good whenever they’re around you. They’ll like you!

Many relationship issues are caused by pride. If you can’t admit you’re wrong, it’s your pride telling you to “win” the argument. If you take an all or nothing stance it’s because giving any credit to others hurts your pride. If you have a lot of pride, you might even refuse to communicate, which is the worst relationship blunder a person can make.

Pride alters communication and connection. When you put yourself on a pedestal, it makes it difficult for anyone to get close to you. Your ability to be vulnerable, which is the primary way we show trust to each other, will be compromised. Pride and vulnerability can’t coexist. If I show you my weakness, my pride takes a back seat because I’ve just shown imperfection, and pride is an illusion of perfection that we tell ourselves and others.” – Stephen Guise

Why would anyone want to embrace pride?  I just can’t understand that.  What value do they actually get from it?   I have never observed situation where pride made any situation better.  Rather it destroys whatever it touches.  Pride ruins marriages, it ruins families, it ruins friendships, and it ruins companies.  Pride doesn’t build, it only destroys.

“Pride and ego can blind people and often makes them guilty of unwise choices and rash decisions that they may later come to regret. Pride can cloud judgment and cause emotional stupidity. The only thing worse than wounded pride is taking action based on the state of mind that it creates.”  – Marshall W

I believe the best way to avoid pride is to be grateful, because being grateful keeps you humble and when you are humble it is impossible to feel pride.  When you are grateful for a spouse it is impossible to act prideful toward them.  When you are grateful for a job it is impossible to be prideful at work.  Gratitude is the key to chasing away pride.

“A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you’re looking down, you can’t see something that’s above you.”

Today’s challenge is to LOOK UP!  And be grateful for all the wonderful things in your life.  That’s the best way to keep them.

-Amy

3 Comments

  • Kendra says:

    Wow! Thank You very much for this amazing reading. I have a clear understanding now about the tremendous differences in being prideful & being grateful. Today I choose to look up & be grateful for all that God has done for me & my children! May God continue to use you, to speak to others. May God continue to guide you!
    God Bless You!

    With Gratitude,
    Kendra

  • Dana says:

    Very good article. I agree that gratitude keeps focus off self and onto others (and God) and counters insidious temptation of pride. It’s can be a huge struggle given the self- focused society of today. I have to constantly be sensitive to issue.

  • Andria Jones says:

    Thank you for sharing this. I had heard this before and you confirmed it to me again.

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