Pride - Pride is, About pride, The Cost of too much pride

About pride, the difference between much pride and healthy pride, and how to know if my pride is good or bad.

Although there is so much information on the web about pride and its negative effect on relationships, the line between the pride and much pride is too fuzzy. Here I would like to analyze and clarify whether pride is really a sin or not,  I plan to clear up the meaning of the word “much” when we talk about “pride”, to draw a distinction between “excessive pride” and “healthy pride”, to understand the different reasons of pride and find the best ways to develop it or decrease it, get rid of vanity.

The thefreedictionary.com gives us an inconsistent meaning of the word “pride”. As a result, it is difficult to understand is it good to have a pride or bad, and how to know for sure if I have much pride or not enough. I divided pride meaning into groups:

Such explanation provokes many disputes: some people say that it is good to have a pride, others – no. My intuition suggests that we should talk about 4 terms: pride and self-confidence – on the one hand, vanity and arrogance – on the other hand, yet they are often used synonymously, but in fact they are different things. Everything changes in the nature. Some objects change their forms, saving their essence. Some objects go further, transforming into other objects. Traits of our character work on the same principle:

We should control our emotions and our thoughts to save the best qualities we have.

At the beginning of our career we have lack of knowledge and experience. The more efforts we devote to a chosen sphere, the better results we have and the more pride we feel about ourself, about our successful achievements. And right here there are two ways:

1. To stay self-confident, look ahead, having respect to others.
2. To move to vanity and arrogance, looking down on those who aren't as gifted as we are in the same area.

The cosequences of each of them are different. The first way leads to success both in our private and social life. The second one is like a sun in winter – it shines on you, but it doesn't warm; doesn't let a plant grow.

Much pride can be both a mask and a real one.

People who wear a mask of excessive pride are usually have one of the following characteristics:

• Don't have any big achievements in their life. They put on a mask to add value to their personality.

• Fear to show weakness - and be hurted (in love relationship) or defeated (in career or business relationship).
  
  

Their shown pride relates more to what they would have others think of them.

On the outside they are too proud to:

• show emotion (love, affection, tenderness) towards parents, husband and children, close friends;

• let others know how they feel about them;

• let anyone see their cry or smile;

• compromise;

• excuse.

People who really have much pride, vanity and arrogance are usually have prominent achievements, but failed to withstand recognition and fame. Their typical thought: “I'm better than others and I'll show and prove it to them”. Their behavior and eyes show others a big difference between their levels.

Healthy pride is a natural state of mind. It relates more to our opinion of ourselves. We keep our self-esteem inside of us and don't advertise it to everyone we meet. When we talk to others, we show our sincere interest to their personality. Pride helps us to meet new friends, build healthy relationships with friends and family.

To be continued...