It is sometimes difficult, but usually possible to determine whether or not we are too proud. A person who is guilty of being too proud is often disliked because their conversation is self-centered and boastful. They become difficult to be around for any length of time, because every conversation ends up being all about them.
To prevent this and avoid excessive pride, guard your thoughts and conversations. Watch how you’re coming across and try to strike a reasonable balance between being sufficiently thankful that you’ve been able to accomplish a few things in life. Be humble in the process of telling others about your successes, and consider waiting until you’re asked before talking about them. Because pride is one reason people lose friends and family members may even try to avoid them, try especially hard not to be too proud. Try not to take all the credit for your achievements, and give credit to others when and where it is due.
It is true that too much pride and arrogance wears very thin with others. In time, everyone has heard enough about that latest-greatest article, or the most recent masterpiece in oils, and even about those wonderful children. When updating others about current successes, it is wise to tone it down so as not to upset people by sounding prideful or boastful, or by grating on their nerves. It is not only potentially intimidating, it also gets downright boring. Over time, it gets very old.
How do we know if we’re too proud? If we often have to ask ourselves how we’re coming across, chances are, we already know we’re coming close to sounding too proud. If we begin to feel uncomfortable hearing ourselves talk, we might be too proud. If we see a look of “Oh, no… not again!” on another person’s face while we’re describing how we passed an exam with flying colors, we probably are too proud. If even we start tiring of the sound of our own inflated ego, it’s a pretty sure bet we’ve been boasting a bit too much. If our best friend on the other end of the phone line suddenly has to bail out of every conversation just as we’re getting to the high point of our story, we better re-examine our pride factor.
On the other hand, if we’re asked about how we did on this or that or how things are going and we reply in an honest way without without sounding like we’re bragging, we’re probably doing well enough at avoiding the pride factor. If we can feel good about the way we’re telling others about our achievements and they seem to be genuinely pleased for us, we’re probably striking that balance. It is always good to be thankful for our gifts and talents and to give ourselves credit where due, if we’re careful not to let it become a source of annoyance to others.
