Pride

"Pride goeth before a fall," it is said. But it's an incomplete statement. It should read, "False pride goeth before a fall."

There's an important distinction there. People are entitled to feel pride but it must be pride which is well deserved, otherwise, it will create problems for the poor slob. Especially once the falsity is discovered by others.

I submit to you that pride, well-placed and well-deserved, is a good thing. It motivates. It creates desire for further achievement and excellence. If you step back to look at something you've done and you see that it's very wonderful, it's okay to feel a sense of pride at your accomplishment. To feel that all is well in the world because you're in it now. To know that when you put your foot forward, good things come about.

Problems come when people attempt to express pride in something which is not theirs to claim.

Another problem with pride comes when, though an accomplishment is the result of the hard work and talent of the individual and he or she has every right to be proud of it, there is sometimes a tendencey to NOT stay motivated and cease to work on new or better things. Ever been in a conversation with a person who says, "I remember once when I . . . ." Yeah? But what have you done since then? Recently? Dwelling on past success is okay but working toward future success is something deserving of renewed pride while old pride is decaying with the passage of time.

Another human error which can happen while feeling pride is to forget to acknowledge the hand of others in one's success. Yeah, you may have done a boatload of hard work and you may have demonstrated great talent, but could you have gotten there without the condescension of other people? Other's providing you your instruction, patience, facilities, resources, etc.?

One final rambling thought is that boasting and bragging is a very offensive practice. Yeah, it's okay to FEEL pride but telling everyone about it when it isn't appropriate is not necessarily going to score you points with them, especially if you're all about claiming credit for an accomplishment instead of acknowledging the aid you received from others. Bosses do it rather frequently. A pat on the back brings no mention of the secretaries and assistants who did the leg work. Granted, the manager did a fabulous job creating and bringing together resources but even the greatest ideas are worthless without some muscle behind it.

That muscle power needs to be acknowledged.

Segway that discussion into one about humility. After basking in the glow of your own pride, time to move on and get some more things done, some more kudos to add to your curriculum vitae. I have to point out that many if not most things which are done exceptionally well and deserve to be pointed out with pride are done by people who love to do what they do. Such people WILL move on and continue doing exceptional things. They are to be revered and respected, to be sure. They feel pride in their excellence, but it doesn't stop them from continuing to be excellent and to become more so as time goes on.

A truly humble person will continue to develop their abilities and their strengths and as they do so, their reasons to be proud will continue.

--Wag--