Pride

I heard it said once, that Pride Ego and Dignity, will keep me from peace and happiness and some of the things in my life that I desire.

I wondered about that. I mean Pride is a feeling of surety and confidence in oneself right? That can't be bad to have. I do not think it is bad to have self confidence, to be happy about things you are able to accomplish. There are times that I have seen for myself that Pride will block me off Spiritually and literally from other people, and things that I need or want.

For instance, there are things involved with my job that I'm just not sure how to do. I could go ask for help on information about these things by someone more qualified, but what usually happens is that I will 'fake it' or skip that part of the task rather than ask anyone for help. Basically I do not want to SEEM as if I do not know what I'm doing. So I'm putting a false front out there. In a way I am lying. Being less than sincere, and robbing myself of the knowledge because of pride.

If I am in love, and feel so much for a person, but I'm afraid they will hurt me if I tell them how I really feel about them, I am robbing myself, and maybe them, the opportunity for a great deal of joy. Pride is simply another form of fear.

Fear that I will appear needy or unintelligent, weak or vulnerable, fear that showing who and what I really am is somehow worse than SEEMING to be something that I am not.

Walking past pride takes bravery of spirit. It takes risking being hurt or teased. I admire people that I see trying to be as real and true as they can be. I value personal honesty, not just the cash register variety.

It doesn't take much to be honest about things you can be found out about, it takes real guts to be honest about who you really are.