Pride: Continuously Be Involved in Positive Living on A Daily Basis

Pride: Continuously Be Involved in Positive Living on A Daily Basis

I am proud, they are proud, we are proud……

We hear that word.

We feel a sense of stronger will within us when that word is used either by us or others.

We share an understanding and a mental idea of what people go through when they make the claim that they are proud.

But what is pride?

The English dictionary definition is a good starting point for one to define and understand the word pride.

According to English dictionaries, it is a feeling or deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired. Other words similar to pride are: pleasure, joy, delight, gratification, fulfilment, satisfaction, sense of achievement, comfort, content, contentment and a feeling that one has moved on to a more fulfilling position in life.

It is also a confidence and self-respect as expressed by members of a group, typically one that has been socially marginalized, on the basis of their shared identity, culture, and experience.

Some use symbols and status to depict pride. Such symbols and status are so varied they include: rings; badges; club membership; pendants; and many other things they choose to use.

Pride is a feeling that you respect yourself and deserve to be respected by other people. This is not a wrong value or belief surely.

However, the feeling that you are more important or better than other people can also be called arrogance and a sense of entitlement if it gets to the point of dismissing others as sub-human!

Pride is a feeling of happiness that you get when you or someone you know does something good, difficult or goes through a long period of hard work before they reach the end-point of achievement.

There are three types of pride: pride expressed as dignity; superiority and arrogance. These are distinguished scientifically by brain scans. Their mental ingredients are singled out, and two experimental studies are presented showing that they are conveyed by different combinations of smile, eyebrow and eyelid positions, and head posture.

Pride is an emotion that can be either nurturing or destructive. Remember being proud is a different thing — it can make you come across as arrogant and self-centered. Being proud is about creating an inflated self-image. It makes life unpleasant, especially for those around you. So, this is why many sayings, warnings and writing warn about it.

The Bible warns about pride in the Proverbs 16:18, which says “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before the fall.”

A Biblical scholar called Bradley (2020), warns that “as part of the sanctification process that God would like to start with each one of us – one of the first things that God will be doing, through the power of the Holy Spirit, is to either take out or prevent certain types of negative qualities from entering into our personalities. Without question, one of the major negative qualities that God will be moving very strongly on to either prevent it from being able to enter into us to any significant degree, or to literally knock it right out of us if it has moved too far up into our personalities is the negative quality of pride.”

Jaasi an Asian spiritual guru says that in order to appreciate our own inner strength, “let's stop for a moment and look around ourselves. Let's reflect on the life that we live. Reflect on our choices, our struggles, our achievements and on what we have lost. Despite going through so much in such little time, we stand tall, with our heads held high! However, sometimes society makes us feel inadequate, like we're doing is not enough or incorrect. And the choices we make might not be "acceptable." But that's just the thing. People talk. It's what they do. So let people talk and point and judge. Just say I am #AsIAm and be proud of these things.” Jaasi goes on to list things one can be proud of: a job; sense of style;  friends; family; ability to forgive; one’s past; self-reflection time alone; traditions; values; beliefs; action against injustices; heritage; sexuality; body.

In celebrating pride, one is actually taking time off to give back to one’s self. It is a good habit to appreciate your achievements. It is also good practice to make an inventory of the things we do in life. This in turn enables one to improve of their sense of worth. When you feel so downcast, just know that your body can overcome this phase. Make strategic plans that anticipate changes in your life. Let most changes come to you when you are ready to adjust. Do not take life for granted. Pride is an opportunity to empower, protect and make us aware that we have to continuously be involved in positive living on a daily basis.