Keeping Pride at Bay

A hard thing to accept is when you’re not accepted. Many artists want to be “different” or “unique” but still retain a sense of social validation. People want to be cool but remain independent. It’s impossible to please all parties when you’re trying to satisfy multiple and different expectations.

It’s rare if our personal expectations and desires are in alignment with the expectations of others. Where do we find the fine boundary between the world and ourselves without being selfish or stretching ourselves thin trying to please others?

Ultimately, we find a belief in something or create a priority. That priority becomes our reference point how we set out to behave. However, our ego and our pride play an interesting role in how it all plays out.

Pride wants everyone to notice what you do. Pride cares about being seen. Pride wants everybody to know you’re special. A big problem is that you’ll come across a lot of people who think you are worthless, who will speak terrible things to you, and make you feel awful – if you let them. Naturally, your beliefs aren’t in line with everyone's beliefs or thoughts. Other times,, there are just simply people who want to bully you and others.

For those who genuinely want to disagree with you, you’re going to have to find a purpose to back up your actions and thoughts. Pride shouldn’t take control if your priorities are higher than yourself. You shouldn’t ever get ittitated because someone thinks differently than you. You’re always going to have someone thinking very different from you, even if it sees far-fetched. Instead of telling them they are wrong, choose to explain why you think your view is right; and then make sure your actions reflect those beliefs.

It’s important to live in the standard of what you believe in, otherwise, the words are in vain. Intentions and beliefs should be bigger than ourselves. Our goals in life should not be to be the most “right” person all the time, as our ego may enjoy. It’s important to learn, to grow, develop, and seek the truth.

Pride has a way of making us greedy. We easily make an enemy out of others and we don’t care what the idea or opinion is behind their reasoning. We often hate being "wrong" and find frustration in rethinking something we used to believe as true when it might not be so. Taking a calm, neutral stance is often not easy, however, an ear that listens that can go a long way. Remember to think about what matters most in this life. The world doesn’t revolve around any single person.

For further related reading, please check out: This Extraordinary Ordinary Life.