Pride Essay, Research Paper

Pride Equals Disaster

Take pride in all that you do is an old proverb that steers many down a one-way path towards destruction. Pride inflates egos and creates an overt feeling of self-importance that is more often than not undeserved. Pride is really negative in connotation, and an emotion that leads to the ruin of an individual.

Pride is not a new emotion, but one that has been around since the beginning of man and is still here today. Proverbs 16:18a states, Pride cometh before destruction . Because of Lucifer s pride in his own works, he believed he had gained supreme superiority, and because of this false conviction he was cast down from heaven. In recent times, a prime example is that of Michael Adolphi, President of Picus, and his pride in himself for achieving early success in his business, this pride led to the bankruptcy of Picus. Pride puts blinders on the eyes of man, as it did with Adolphi. The blinders that are produced by pride make it impossible to see one s own flaws. It hides all impurity, never letting the thought of imperfection enter the mind.

Having pride is the negative aspect of being proud. The nuances between the words proud and pride may not be apparent to the casual observer, yet they have key differences. Pride refers to the person, not the deed. The act of being proud refers to the actual accomplishment; one is proud of his accomplishment, not himself. As soon as his feelings shift towards himself, pride enters his heart and begins to deteriorate his own credibility when viewing others as well as himself. Being proud of a work is natural, however; pride is not a natural human emotion. Pride is a feeling that takes over when one feels the need to prove himself. 1 John 2:16 says, For everything in the world- the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes, and the pride of life and what he does- come not from the Father, but from the world. This verse clearly expresses that pride is not a natural feeling, but a result that comes from the numerous pressures in society.

Pride always starts with the thought that, just maybe, one can prove himself by doing something better than another. The seed of pride is then planted and continues to grow, and along with that, the ego begins to grow. This, of course, is the beginning of the road that inevitably ends in self-destruction. In general, the key to keeping this unnatural feeling under control and avoiding devastation is to always maintain a realistic perspective of accomplishments and achievements. Remaining humble in all that is done and not getting caught up in the fight for acceptance among peers is imperative. Gaining acceptance is a driving force in pride.

As much as pride sounds like a good trait to possess, it leads to the annihilation of oneself. But, this is easily avoidable. Getting caught up in self-worth is not necessary. Instead, focusing on less destructive, positive features is in the best interest of all.

Brian Patterson