There are many ways to waste precious energy – Greed, envy, anger… But there is one way that is truly unique because it comes in many forms. It is pride. And if you thought right now that it doesn’t concern you, that you don’t consider yourself to be a proud person, don’t rush to conclusions. Pride knows how to disguise itself well, today we will look at all its manifestations carefully, and we will understand how to get rid of it correctly and relatively quickly.
Forms of Pride Encountered in Our Lives
I know exactly what it’s like to live right. And I will teach all the ignorant, instill in them reason, show them direction. No, no, I will not practice my advice personally, because everything in my life is fine, but I will certainly, very insistently, share what I have learned with those around me.- I cannot be wrong just because I am always right. And if you don’t think so, I will prove to you that I am right.
- I am so much better than the others, because I know everything better than anyone else. This is not up for discussion, because it is a fact that I have personally acknowledged.
- A mixture of hubris and selfishness – do as I want, as I see fit. I’m pretty sure I know what you should be, and I will, so be it, teach you how to do it. I’ll tell you how to act, how to treat me, how to talk to me and other people.
- I’m terribly unhappy. It’s a form of pride that’s the opposite of the “I’m the best and the most wonderful” version. And I will be the most miserable because I have not succeeded in standing out with my beauty and talent. Well, that’s okay, I’ll stand out with my problems, positioning myself as the most unhappy, demonstratively suffering, and complaining incessantly to everyone.
- Paranoia, which is based on pride. It is the constant desire to be responsible for the actions, feelings, and fates of others. If someone is angry or sad, it is all my fault; if someone is happy, then I am the cause. My husband is nervous because of me, my children are irritable because of me. But if all is well, that’s because of me too! My mother-in-law is in a great mood because of me, my husband got a promotion because I did my best. The weather is sunny today also because of me! Everything happens because of me, I am like God who makes destinies, punishes and encourages.
- Labeling is also a manifestation of pride in our lives. This is especially true of psychological labels, such as: you are introverted, you are unbalanced, you are immune to criticism. Such a person is like a sorter; he divides people into categories, like things.
- I know exactly what is right, so I judge others. If someone doesn’t do what I want, I will condemn him.
- It is a peculiar manifestation of pride to refuse to listen to advice. If a person listens to advice but does not follow it, it is foolishness. Certainly you should not go to extremes and try to implement everything that you are advised, no. The best position is the golden mean. You need to listen to the advice of those whom you really trust – your parents, sisters and brothers, grandparents. You should not take someone’s advice as a criticism or an order. Sound advice combined with a sensible attitude is a catalyst for your development and growth as a person.
- To help others “from above” is also a manifestation of pride. Such a person expects an immediate reaction to any of his or her help.
expects an immediate reaction in the form of gratitude, endless applause. It is as if God Himself has condescended to the person being helped. - Constantly trying on the role of the victim and falling into a state of resentment. He did everything wrong, she looked at me the wrong way, and these people did everything wrong from the beginning.
- Claims against your own loved ones are also one of the manifestations of pride. My parents should not interfere in my life, my brother should protect me, my sister should cook dinner in my mother’s absence.
- When no one asks for it, but you give advice and give your opinion anyway, it’s a manifestation of hubris.
- Ingratitude in any of its manifestations, even a mechanical “thank you” instead of a sincere one, is a form of ingratitude.
- One of the positions of arrogance is irresponsibility – unwillingness or inability to take responsibility for oneself and one’s actions, shifting responsibility on others’ shoulders.
- Too much responsibility, its hypertrophied form is akin to taking on the role of God. We take responsibility for our husband, our parents, our friends, we try to handle everything ourselves, but nothing works. Even though it may seem to us that everything is all right.
- Discontent with everything that happens in life is also a form of pride. I was born in the wrong place, I went to school in the wrong place, I married the wrong man. It’s all terribly unfair, because I know exactly what I deserve!
- I am the savior of everyone and everything! This type of pride is especially characteristic of people whose professions help those around them – psychologists, firemen, doctors. They attribute improvement and recovery to themselves as their own merit and do not even think about the fact that each of us is but an instrument in the hands of God. And if a doctor’s patients are on the mend, it only means that I am doing a good job as an instrument in God’s hands, but that too is God’s merit.
- Lack of faith in God and disregard for the faith of others is the most terrible form of pride that exists; it completely paralyzes a person’s ability to develop spiritually.
How to Overcome Pride
It is possible and necessary to fight manifestations of pride. There are really proven ways that will help to eradicate this destructive manifestation.
Start to work by yourself, doing the “dirty” in your opinion work. Try to wash the floors in the entryway, paint the walls or paste up ads, repaint the curbs in the yard of your apartment building. With this work you can leave your comfort zone and realize that this does not break you, but on the contrary, becomes even stronger than before.
Pass on knowledge not from an overbearing position, but as an equal. Be sure to share your skills, but do it accurately and correctly, do not put pressure on anyone.
The best way to inspire others is not by your profound reasoning about what is right, but by living example. Show them what you want to teach. Unobtrusively, but clearly.
Make a special diary, in which you will write special things – your gratitude to the world. And put at least 10 points in it every day. Write the things for which you are grateful to God, to life, to the world. With the help of this diary you will realize that all these things for which you are thankful – they are not created by you, they are given to you.
Improve the world anonymously! Donate without telling anyone what you do. You can even plant a flowerbed in front of your house at night, as long as no one sees. Even if you are asked to tell about the charity you are doing – don’t tell everything, don’t tell what amounts you donate and how often.
Practice mental bows when you meet anyone. It is the bow that demonstrates recognition, gratitude, and respect, so bow mentally to everyone you meet. You can practice not only mental bows with your loved ones, but also real bows.
Learn to occasion attentively and silently, everyone. Practice it for a few days – don’t interrupt anyone during a conversation, don’t insert your opinion, be silent. And during the silence, don’t think about how you might respond, but just listen carefully. You’d be surprised how many useful things you can hear even in an ordinary conversation.
Learn to accept other people
Learn to share your gratitude. If you have been thanked for something you know, you may want to give it to your Guru. If you don’t have a Guru, there is someone who helped you gain knowledge, advised you on a book, taught you how to read, after all.
Give gratitude mentally every time someone brings it to you, then pride won’t be able to take root in your soul.
Don’t forget the principle of the mirror, because everything in our world is a mirror. If something irritates you in the behavior of the person, then think about your behavior, because you have the same disease with him. Maybe you behave just like that person.
Do not be stingy with gratitude, accustom yourself to thank all. Cab driver – for a quick trip, the seller – for beautifully packaged goods, a partner – for a cup washed behind himself, children – for cleaning the bed. And always give thanks sincerely.
I sincerely wish you would meet your pride face to face and begin to interact with it. And that as a result, it may not be able to resist love and the warmth and goodness that you radiate!
With love Maria Shakti
