PRIDE VERSUS HUMILITY– HAVING A VIVID DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BOTH OF THEM

I believe it’s quite obvious and we all know by now that humility is the opposite of pride. And like I would always say, pride is something that runs in every one of us, whether we are aware of it or not. It’s part of our imperfection as human beings.

But it cannot really destroy us when we’re always aware of it. Yes, awareness is everything. Self-awareness makes you see things that your normal derailed mind cannot see, it’s the key to unlocking your wholeness as a being.

Yet, I still see people trying to figure out whether they should be proud to gain respect or to be humble. Most people tend to see humility as an open avenue to humiliation and that’s really not true you know. For there’s nothing that can bring honor more than humility does. It’s actually pride that brings about humiliation.

Pride and humility are two terms that will continue to be a profound part of the human race. One can create and build stronger relationships, while others seem to be the destroyer in it all.

WHAT IS PRIDE AND WHAT IS HUMILITY?

Do you really know what they are? I’m not talking about knowing a particular definition for both of them and saying that you know what they are. Do you know them “in person”? Can you really pinpoint it out in characters, attitudes, and behaviors of others and in yourself too?

Now, I know you know the specific meaning of these terms, but I want us to look into it from an angle that involves our daily lives. That is, how we tend to live with others and ourselves and the kind of relationship it is.

You really cannot fake having any of these two traits because it will surely reflect in the way you act outwardly. And that is why it is good to be aware of your actions and attitudes because you might not really tell how it’s reflecting when you lack self-awareness.

We’ll be looking at the contrary of the terms from a different and similar angle as well. So by then, you will learn how to adjust your attitude to living the right way which is living a humble life.

Okay, let’s look at them one at a time in relation to different areas of our lives.

• In terms of knowledge

Pride is what makes you feel that you know too much and that you don’t want anyone to tell you what to do. You feel nobody knows it more than you. But you see humility is what makes you understand that you can always learn from others even with the numerous knowledge that you’ve accumulated.

• In terms of communication

Pride makes you think that you don’t have to be the first to initialize a conversation. Even if you do want to do it, your ego won’t allow it. Whereas humility makes you see initializing a conversation as nothing. You just do it out of pure intention and interest. You wouldn’t mind that because it really doesn’t matter who starts a conversation, what matters is that there is a conversation and it matters to you.

• In terms of self-esteem

Pride makes you think so highly of yourself. You see yourself more than you are. It’s also what makes you think less of yourself. You may feel that you’re worthless and that nothing good is in you. Well, humility makes you see yourself as you are, not thinking highly or less of yourself–just as you are. You don’t feel that you are higher or lower than anybody and you honestly don’t think also that anyone is better or worse than you. That is humility – seeing yourself as you actually are.

• In terms of wealth and riches

Pride makes you look down on people who are not rich or wealthy. You see those people as ordinary people and as such, you cannot see yourself relating with them in any way, at all. Even when you are not wealthy, pride still makes you look down on those people you think you are “richer” than and so you don’t want anything to do with them. You only want those rich and influential people to be your friends, and you treat them as if they are your gods. But with humility, you don’t care whether a person is rich or poor, you seem to treat everyone equally and nicely. You don’t look down on anybody because you know that every one of us is equal irrespective of our differences, wealth, or health.

• In terms of service

Pride will not make you want to willingly serve others. You just don’t want to be at the service of other people but want others to be at your service. You just want to sit there and order people around as if they were your slaves. However, humility makes you be at the service of other people. For some reason, you enjoy serving others and that gives you great joy and fulfillment. You always want to find a way to help people and see how you can affect their lives by contributing your quota to their personal growth and development.

• In terms of behavior

Pride makes you behave rudely and arrogantly to others for no just reason. You just easily pick offenses and just annoy everybody around you. But humility makes you be nice to people, even if they are strangers. You don’t mind going the extra mile to do for others just to make them happy and that is an amazing thing to do.

• In terms of listening

Pride makes you a poor listener. When in a conversation you always want to talk and reply to every word that the other person is saying. You don’t even pay intent attention to whatever the person is saying, all you care about is saying your own opinion. On the other hand, you might be a good listener, but then you just don’t want to put in the effort to really listen to other people. Whereas, humility is what makes you be genuinely interested in other people. You sincerely want to listen to them and all they have to say to you and see how you can be of help to whatever they may be going through. You don’t just cut them off or interrupt them when they are talking, you just pay close attention to their every word.

• In the aspect of generosity

A proud person is not always generous. Giving is like a big deal to them and as such, they don’t seem to give generously. However, in some cases, they might give, but it’s out of pride. And when they give, they would want every other person to know about it. They would want people to see them as generous and then begin to praise them. But humility makes you give generously without even letting another soul know about it. I mean, this is the whole idea of giving. The whole world doesn’t have to know that you gave out something. It should utterly be between you and the person, except of course the person decides to tell it to others to let them know how good you are. But it shouldn’t be you doing the announcement.

   Life is Better Off with Humility

So, since you now have a clear description of what pride and humility are, you can now agree with me without any doubt that life seems to be better when one is humble.

There’s really no point living out a prideful and haughty life. You may think that you’re on top of the world when for a fact you’re down beneath the surface of the earth where there seems to be lifelessness.

Arrogance and pride always have drawbacks and I can’t seem to point out any benefit you’ll gain from it because it’s a negative attitude and nobody wants to be closely associated with someone that has such an attitude.

But there is something you tend to gain from being humble. Even if you don’t see it, the reward is really there.  Don’t just think that being humble is a lowlife and as such you don’t want to be referred to as one.

People tend to honor and respect those that are humble. There is a kind of respect they give to them because it’s really not easy to live a humble life, truthfully. Because many factors around you will want to make you just act rudely and arrogant. But that’s a weakness. For humility is strength, only the strong can truly be humble. Weak people have pride because it’s easier to do.

I believe you will do yourself the best thing by living a humble life because that is where true living lies. And don’t relent if you’ve already been that way. Don’t allow people’s actions to determine your reaction. But, be the one to be calm in the scene and you’ll see yourself elevating more than you excepted. Make a commitment today to always do for others willingly and always treat them nicely, no matter their status or their influence.

Thanks for reading guys. Kindly leave your comments below and don’t forget to share.

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