Do you believe that pride is a bad thing?

[True Scotsman]

Pride though for me isn't about accomplishments. I'm speaking more in terms of maybe admitting when I'm wrong, etc...

What do you feel about that side of pride?

Oh yes I see. Yes I think being unable to admit when you are wrong is a form of dishonesty. That is a character flaw that I myself have had. When I think of pride I am thinking of self esteem and feeling worthy of admiration.

I think people going the other direction and hiding their pride is just as bad too. I see it all the time when someone is praised for an effort and they say "Well, you know it really wasn't me, it was just lucky or being in the right place at the right time or I was just doing my job.

We've all been conditioned to be "selfless" and I don't see any reason for it which is why I reacted the way I did to comment about pride leading to sin.

 

[znr]

If it's destructive and stupid pride, then examine it and try to change your mind. Example of bad pride is constant bragging and chest puffing, i.e., I know a this guy from the internet, I've spoken to him by phone only, but I taught him how to do a few things and now he's very "successful", at least monetarily, but his attitude is so puffed up and so arrogant that he can't see the fall he's headed for - because that sort of pride is blinding; it obscures one's view. That sort of pride is bad. All pride is not bad. Only you can decide if yours needs to be addressed.

 

[Eudaimonist]

Just wondering. I think I have a problem with pride, but there are times when it can be a positive thing

If you take pride in your accomplishments, that's a good thing. If you take pride in developing a good moral character, I would also say that's a good thing.

If by pride one means "hubris", I can see how that is bad. Hubris involves the idea that one is above other people, and may therefore mistreat them at a whim. A schoolyard bully has hubris.

Pride in the sense of feeling good about one's accomplishments is not hubris. They are two quite different things.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[FireDragon76]

You don't have to be a Christian to recognize the problems with pride.

 

[bhsmte]

Just wondering. I think I have a problem with pride, but there are times when it can be a positive thing, and other times, it can ruin relationships. I know that Christianity teaches that it is sinful to be prideful. It is also considered one of the seven ''deadly sins,'' so it must be bad. lol

How do you view it?

It's like anything else; your strength can also be your biggest weakness, if you let it get out of hand.

 

[keith99]

If pride prevents you from doing what is wrong it is a good thing.

If it prevents you from doing what should be done because it is beneath you or from admitting your weaknesses or errors it is a bad thing.

 

[Deidre32]

I've read all of your advice -- thank you so much. In my case, I have a hard time being vulnerable in a relationship. My pride keeps me from "falling" too much. If that makes sense. I get afraid of losing myself or identity, and instead of just enjoying the relationship, my pride gets in the way.

I've never been boastful etc...I realize that is a different type of pride.

Your posts helped me today! Appreciated. I'm going to work on this some.

 

[fireof god98]

a certain amount of pride is both human, and necessary to spur great accomplishment. But pride tricks you into thinking that you're somehow better, or set apart from the rest of humanity. It's also like a drug in that you need more and more and more just to feel good; to stave off your inevitable mortality.

 

[juvenissun]

Just wondering. I think I have a problem with pride, but there are times when it can be a positive thing, and other times, it can ruin relationships. I know that Christianity teaches that it is sinful to be prideful. It is also considered one of the seven ''deadly sins,'' so it must be bad. lol

How do you view it?

Christianity is interesting. It teaches follower to be "dependent" and to "rely" on God. The more dependent, the better. The problem is, if one really does that, then the "pride" is gone automatically.

So, if you want to be an independent human, then you keep your pride at all price. Honestly, it is quite a hard work.

 

[juvenissun]

I've read all of your advice -- thank you so much. In my case, I have a hard time being vulnerable in a relationship. My pride keeps me from "falling" too much. If that makes sense. I get afraid of losing myself or identity, and instead of just enjoying the relationship, my pride gets in the way.

I've never been boastful etc...I realize that is a different type of pride.

Your posts helped me today! Appreciated. I'm going to work on this some.

You should try to learn to depend on God, instead of "falling" with a man. You are afraid because you do not trust man. That is correct.
If you do trust God, it would be a whole new world for you. Hope you find God.

 

[Noxot]

I think desire and what desire attaches itself to and that it becomes plays a key role in how a person will be. it is important to strive for that which you want to be. it is important to be aware of what we are doing, of what is going on and playing out inside of us. there is a saying that I recently heard that went sort of like this: "man influences you from the outside. God influences you from the inside."

I guess ultimately a person would want to have higher or better feelings and reactions than 'evil pride'. things such as peace, love, mercy, joy, and being wise... would probably be much better to be in than pride but it takes time to change and the brain and hearts learned reactions need to both die to all crudeness and to be raised from the dead in all goodness. it is not good to function by only the body of necessity. we have a spirit and a freedom that helps to shape what we become and so if you don't want to be in some kind of way then don't be it. if those things that you no longer want to be still happen then you will understand that there is some part of you that even though it wants to do good... it is resisted by 'the flesh'. it takes time to detach ourselves from our flesh and to then reprogram ourselves to function in a better manner that is not based in those past things that we no longer desire to be. to be aware of what is happening is important as well as to put the desires in things that are worth being.


for atheist I think this means to reach for the highest moral standard and image of goodness that they can see ( everyone that wants to be good trys to be the good that they perceive as good ). if it serves you then do it and be it and if it does not serve you then be aware of the process and learn how to change. since I am not an atheist I can't speak too much for what kinds of practices they do to be what they want to be and to change from what they do not want to be into something they want to be but since we are all humans we do many similar things. many atheist have already given good advice as well. i suppose just by you talking about and reasoning with others that you will either come to a conclusion of some sort such as what you do is okay or that doing this will be better so do this when that happens. obviously developing some form of discipline is very important as it can be really hard to not act on impulse/strong built up desires/past patterns/sexual drives/ectect... sometimes.


for Christians that is the thing they see God to be. but sadly they see God through their old past ways of being and then they try to conform to that image that they believe God to be like. thus it is important for christians to get in a close relationship with God rather than being in a relationship that is far away... that has a crude understanding from the earth rather than a refined one from heaven. this is where walking in our two greatest commandments help us to become spiritual rather than carnal. in general those things I call "spiritual practices", such a praying to God, and which can be summed up in "faith, hope, and love to God"... are things that helps one to prepare and shape the soul to a 'virgin' condition as opposed to a 'harlot' condition of the soul and this is our part in meeting God. Gods part is for him to transform us far more than we could ever hope. the commandment to not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil is also a spiritual practice that helps one become a tree of life by not partaking of the self that is a mixture of good and evil. God is our rest and seeing. union with God or theosis is the goal for being that which we desire to be. the new jerusalem comes down from heaven. we become a temple not built with the hands of men.

 

[quatona]

I've read all of your advice -- thank you so much. In my case, I have a hard time being vulnerable in a relationship. My pride keeps me from "falling" too much. If that makes sense. I get afraid of losing myself or identity, and instead of just enjoying the relationship, my pride gets in the way.

If I may make a recommendation...it might make it easier for you to deal with this issue when you think of it as a manifestation of fear rather than a manifestation of pride.

 

[Deidre32]

If I may make a recommendation...it might make it easier for you to deal with this issue when you think of it as a manifestation of fear rather than a manifestation of pride.

I think you're right--thank you.

 

[BL2KTN]

I'm so much more humble than everybody else -- and it's not even close -- that I don't think I can help you on this one.

 

[Hetta]

Just wondering. I think I have a problem with pride, but there are times when it can be a positive thing, and other times, it can ruin relationships. I know that Christianity teaches that it is sinful to be prideful. It is also considered one of the seven ''deadly sins,'' so it must be bad. lol

How do you view it?

Pride can be good and bad, as you said. It's good to be proud of your accomplishments, but it's bad to be too proud to apologize or right a wrong.