Pride vs. Humility
Note: There are multiple definitions of pride. In this article, pride means hostility or animosity towards others because you consider yourself better or more important than them. This type of pride is the opposite of humility.
Which world do you want to live in?
Pride
A central aspect of pride is competition and categorization. We pit what we value against others. Pride tells us that we are only successful when we have more than others – intelligence, beauty, popularity, money, possessions, power… the list is endless and arbitrary. It essentially says that success only comes through keeping others below us.
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Humility
Humility recognizes that we are happiest when we can enjoy and even further the success of others. Everyone is lifted because they can be recognized and valued.
Pride
A proud person finds the idea of not having high status offensive, because they believe being lowly and poor means having little or no worth.
vs.
Humility
A humble person does not worry about status. If they are in a high-status position, they seek to benefit those they lead.
Pride
Pride ignores or feels threatened by the people or circumstances that helped us be successful. It tells us that our successes stem from our amazing abilities, strengths or hard work – not from other people or resources that helped create opportunities.
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Humility
Humility recognizes that while success usually requires hard work, fortitude and skill, the success was possible because of people who created the circumstances where hard work and fortitude could be rewarded, and where skills could be developed.
Pride
Pride hates to be corrected, because that implies it was wrong. Ego says a person has less value, so they are too busy feeling shame or anger to learn from errors.
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Humility
Humility seeks to align with truth even when we’ve been wrong, or when truth condemns us, because aligning our lives with true principles makes us stronger, healthier and happier. Truth is more important than protecting one’s ego. Humility provides strength and a mindset that allows us to adapt in healthy ways.
Pride
Pride tells us that we already know enough, or that there’s nothing to learn from THAT person or group.
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Humility
Humility values truth and knows there is always more to learn and more ways to grow. Humility recognizes that even if we know more about a subject than someone else, their perspectives can bring new insights (and they should be treated with the respect an equal deserves in any case).
Pride
Pride is easily offended by an opinion it considers wrong or simply does not like. It quickly judges and categorizes others as “bad,” “stupid,” “hateful” or morally inferior for believing or saying something it considers wrong. Therefore, pride does not want to listen or understand why others may possess different opinions.
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Humility
Humility uses the golden rule by recognizing that each person still has value. It tries to set aside judgment so the person can be understood fairly, and ideas can be explored respectfully. When opinions remain different, humility respectfully disagrees and aligns with the truths it believes.
Pride
Proud people are often unhappy because they are so focused on what they do not have, or what they believe they are entitled to receive from others. This ingratitude causes them to ignore good experiences, circumstances and people.
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Humility
Humble people are typically happy because they are grateful – that is, they readily and regularly see the blessings in life. They recognize that bad experiences and circumstances happen, but that makes the positive things and relationships more special and cherished.
Pride
Pride is sinister because its effects are often subtle until you learn how to identify its signs and symptoms. Among other things, pride leads to an unwillingness to value others, fault-finding, and unwillingness to accept responsibility for bad decisions. All of this causes resentment to fester in personal and professional relationships.
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Humility
Humility’s effects are also subtle until you learn how to see them. Unlike pride, humility leads to valuing others, being understanding and less judgmental of their mistakes, and accepting responsibility for bad decisions. This allows healthy relationships to blossom and makes you stronger and more resilient.