Jul
13
Pride: A Deadly Sin
July 13, 2007 | |
Pride is defined by an exaggeration of your worth and power in an attempt to feel superior to others. Pride can lead you down the wrong path when you feel like you have to be the best at everything. This kind of compulsion to achieve can get in the way of your ability to connect respectfully and equally with others.
Historically, Pride has been seen as the worst of all the deadly sins, as it is believed to lead to all other sins and to recklessly cruel behavior. In a religious context, Pride was originally cast as the human attempt at godliness. People were supposed to be humbled by their mortality: But being prideful was seen as the ultimate denial that humanity was at the mercy of God.
Modern-day psychology, though, also recognizes the benefit of possessing a certain degree of Pride. In this light, Pride in this regard, is akin to self-respect. Taking Pride in a job well-done and a life well-lived is generally considered to be healthy. This view of Pride evolved, in part, due to the cultural shift in the Western world from being purely God-centered to being more focused on individual achievement and actualization.
Contemporary theologians continue to debate these multifaceted opinions about Pride, its merits and pitfalls. And even today, many people feel personally conflicted about how much Pride is a good thing. This conflict is largely because modern popular thought still tends to see arrogance and boastfulness as negative components of pride. And because of this many people teeter between wanting to bolster their self-esteem through Pride while still remaining modest.
Despite all of these philosophical ambiguities, though, your particularly high score on Pride indicates that you may be falling into the trap of believing (whether you recognize it or not) you’re invincible and unequaled in talent. If you aren’t careful, your drive to excel at all costs may ultimately be your downfall, possibly leading to mental anguish and isolation. Beware of prioritizing your achievements and talents above all else. And especially be wary of using them as a way to feel separate from, and superior to, others.
Excessive pride can actually be a detriment both to your self-esteem and to your relationships. If your pride drives you to treat loved ones or subordinates poorly, this can chip away at your connections — connections you ultimately need and want, and undermine your humanity. And if your expectations of yourself are so unrealistically high that you’re never pleased with yourself or others (you’re only human, after all), you will likely find yourself chronically dissatisfied with life. The Pride section of "The Seven Deadly Sins and You" reveals which Antidote you can use to help yourself achieve a healthier, more satisfying balance to this aspect of your life.
Pride
Pride is the exaggeration of your worth and power in an attempt to feel superior to others. It causes you to feel like you have to be the best at everything, which can get in the way of your ability to connect respectfully and equally with others.
The sin of Pride has been condemned in various cultures throughout history. For example:
- In Native American spirituality, it is believed that perfection, or the attempt to achieve it, angers the gods. Thus, when beading or weaving, some tribes make sure to introduce a tiny error into their crafts as a sign that they understand they are mere humans.
- In ancient Greek mythology, Daedalus fashions a pair of wings with wax in order to allow himself and his son Icarus to escape imprisonment. But when Icarus tries to fly too high, forgetting that he is a mere mortal, the sun melts the wax and he plummets into the sea.
- In the Biblical story of Adam and Eve, the pair eats from the Tree of Knowledge in an attempt to be more like God. Their punishment for their prideful act is a life of toil.
Still, traditional religious thought has always advocated fostering a certain degree of humility. While humility has been underrated by modern thought, equated with low self-esteem or feelings of inferiority, being humble does not necessarily have to take on these negative connotations. Here are some ways you can foster healthy humility:
- Try not to do things solely to be recognized for your achievement. Instead, do what reaps the best outcome for yourself and others, and what brings you actual pleasure and fulfillment.
- Don’t let praise or criticism rule your actions. Instead, make choices based on what’s kind to yourself and others.
- Resist feeling superior or inferior based on physical appearance or ability, wealth, or intelligence, because this requires you to put undue importance on attributes that are fragile at best and deceptive at worst.
- Don’t deny your faults or rationalize your mistakes. Recognizing your moments of selfishness, deceptiveness, or cruelty is the only way you can change your future behavior.
