Pride "guard"
Hi everyone
We hope your week has been kind to you If it hasn't, make sure you are taking some time this weekend to reflect on what was in your control, and accept what wasn't. Don't dwell too much on what you can no longer change and instead focus on what you can influence NOW. Most importantly, take time to nourish and nurture your mind and body
So far this month we have talked about how pride can benefit us in many ways. Today we want to touch on how some versions of pride can have a negative impact in our life...
How many times have you not said sorry in/after an argument, when you probably should have? Have you ever prevented a relationship or friendship from healing after a difficult period? Have you ever stopped yourself applying for a promotion or a new job you feel is 'above' you? Have you ever stopped yourself from walking through the doors to the gym...?
There are many reasons why we may have said yes to any/all of the above, and one of them is our sense of pride. We try our hardest to protect our ego that we find it hard to let our pride 'guard' down and admit when we are wrong. Our integrity is so important to us that we are sometimes afraid to make mistakes, or take a risk, and so our guard comes back in to play and doesn't allow us to step outside our comfort zone. Pride is an amazing feeling when we recognise achievements and hard work, in all aspects of our life, but it is also important to recognise when we are allowing pride to prevent us from being happy and content...
Sometimes you must say sorry. Sometimes you must take the steps needed to heal. Sometimes you have to abandon your pride and take a risk. None of these imply you are weak, in fact they show you to be strong and in control, and when it comes to protecting our mental health and wellbeing, that is really what matters most. Imagine how, in past situations, you could have been happier if you had been prepared to let your guard down for a moment. It's perfectly normal and reasonable to attribute blame for past problems on other people and external issues - but how many times have you been unhappy because you lost control? How many times could you have dropped your guard and changed an outcome? How many times could you have said to yourself "I see you pride, and I understand that you are trying to protect me and my feelings of self worth, but I'm going in to the gym and I'm going to work hard because I believe I can do it. I'm not focused on others and what they may think, this is all about me. And when I leave, I'll be proud that I tried and I achieved"...
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Sam and Ash
