The question Is Pride Really So Bad? should have you asking yourself: Why is pride so bad? This is a valid concern, since pride has a negative impact on social interactions and behavior. In one study, participants were induced to feel pride by receiving high test scores. Another study correlated high test scores with a lower self-esteem. This finding is based on the notion that pride is associated with perseverance.
While Vaush's solution is fine for safe spaces like comic book conventions, it doesn't make much sense when we are talking about the politics of Pride. Historically, the fight for equality became an incremental battle over respectability. The LGBTQ community sacrificed certain aspects of their lives for baseline recognition. This approach has been a failure for decades. Pride has become a symbol for activism for the LGBTQ community. But it shouldn't be that way.
Despite the negative associations, genuine pride is not always bad. Interestingly, people who display authentic pride are more compassionate, resilient and self-controlled than those with hubristic pride. And they tend to perform better at tasks that require deductive reasoning, creativity, and innovation. Moreover, authentic pride encourages people to help other people. But beware of excessive pride: hubristic leaders may be dangerous and cause ill effects.
People who are proud of their religious identity do not easily submit to authority, whether spiritual or secular. They often rebel against religious leaders because they believe that they can make better decisions than those in power. The problem is that people with too much pride are more likely to be tempted by evil than those who have humble hearts. So, what's the difference between these two extremes? What can we learn from their examples?
While we can't prevent pride from being harmful, we can choose to have it in moderation. For example, healthy pride involves taking care of oneself. It's important to appreciate the opportunities we have in life. And, most importantly, it prevents us from comparing ourselves to others. Healthy pride is a reflection of a healthy pride. If you're a proud person, then you'll understand how important it is to stay humble and be grateful for your gifts and talents.
What is pride? A proud person feels a sense of entitlement and is overly self-critical. Prideful people also feel entitled to their accomplishments, so they tend to be envious of other people. They feel bad when others do well, and try to put them down. They do things to gain attention, even if it means that they have no merit in themselves. They do this because they feel bad when others receive gifts and recognition.