Pride and Prejudice - Fact of Life
By Shiva
@Shiva49 (26789)
Singapore
January 9, 2016 12:35am CST
Though it varies in terms of degree, we all have pride as well as prejudice. While the former can lead us to set high standards, perform at a higher level, the latter tends to curtail us – our thinking, objectivity and positive actions.
Pride is necessary to excel – we won’t compromise on our standards as we want to leave our footprints, stamp of quality, in whatever we do. Even companies can align to this trait and Steve Jobs comes to mind readily. Now Apple is trying to live up to his standards both in terms of innovation and quality. I think pride in his ability and dedication drove him to excel – he did not compromise.
Prejudice is a negative attribute. We easily fall prey to it in different degrees. I try to shake it off when I tend to judge others before understanding them. Some are harmless like when two sides/people play a sport. I have my favorites though I do not know how I choose them – maybe, their general demeanor that attracts or put them off. I like to go for the underdog than one who struts about as the chosen one!
I have narrowed down the choice of pride and prejudice. Pride is for putting my best foot forward and being useful to society – trying to be a good human being, not miss an opportunity to help those in need. I had some prejudices but when I knew I was limiting myself I eschewed, discarded them; no more when it comes to beliefs, color, gender etc. I have found our Creator is sprinkling the good and bad everywhere!
13 people like this
12 responses
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
9 Jan 16
Prejudice is obviously bad but I see no reason not to take pride in our achievements or the good results our loved ones attain in life as long as we don't get smug and vain about it too
5 people like this
@innertalks (22114)
• Australia
10 Jan 16
Yes, pride should not become too noisy, it should remain silent in its own poise.
Real pride does not speak of itself too proudly, smugly, or vainly, as you pointed out.
@Shiva49 (26789)
• Singapore
10 Jan 16
@innertalks Pride is needed to be conscious of our real worth, to highlight our achievements, to be confident of ourselves. There are limits though as we should not strut around with "in your face' demeanor! siva
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@artemeis (4194)
• China
19 Jan 16
I suppose we need to be constantly checking on how we carry ourselves and perceive issues around us. Being excessive with our pride simply makes us obnoxious and people will shun away from us while being over prejudicial will limit us to a greater scope of opportunities and most of all, friends.
However, there are some who seems to be a radical when it comes to humility creating a false humility at the end of the day which again is quite a bane as far as socializing is concern. There is nothing wrong with claiming a deserve title or victory but being hideous with it will just be deemed as pretentious from the other end and be misunderstood as hypocrisy at the end of it. So, it is very baffling for me when I meet some of these achievers in my circle.
So over leaning on either side is never healthy and I see moderation as the best advocacy here.
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@innertalks (22114)
• Australia
20 Jan 16
@Shiva49 I have even heard it said that the law of Moses that tells us about not putting any other God before God, also refers to this idea that we should not put anything else first before being our real self.
This includes our career, or our sports, or our hobby, we should not doggedly pursue something at the expense of our neglecting following the inclinations of our true selves.
That is whenever we worship something else instead of being true to our true self, we are serving a false God, so to speak.
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@Shiva49 (26789)
• Singapore
20 Jan 16
@innertalks Thanks Steve, I have eschewed those that are repugnant to my liking. One is trying to take advantage of others in any way as I feel I am not being truthful to who I am. I also feel we should use resources to meet only our needs and leave the rest for others too. Accumulating wealth beyond a limit gives no peace of mind as our own will be waiting impatiently anticipating free lunch and more all their lives.
Everything in balance so that we don't accumulate too much wealth or regrets along the way seems a nice approach for most though there can be exceptions like those who are driven and want the adrenaline flow from a fast pace of life - siva
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@Shiva49 (26789)
• Singapore
19 Jan 16
I think the best attitude and approach is to be true to ourselves - no pretenses at all. That way we are consistent and reliable like when we tell the truth we don't have to remember much! What you see is what you get - fits like a glove!
I have seen some who are hypocrites especially in terms of pretending to be religious to impress others of similar faith. But they are selfish to the core and that is not being religious at all!
Pretensions will be easily exposed as people watch who we are and coming to their own conclusions. Be who we are and try to adapt and improve our character seems a good way for me. Pride should spur us to better ourselves while prejudices only harm us and limit our true potential - siva
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@allknowing (138003)
• India
11 Mar 16
i have more or less followed the same path. While being proud with a view to not compromising on standards was pardonable in my case my being selective about who I mix around did go to extremes. That is history now.
1 person likes this
@whiteream (8567)
• United States
16 Jan 16
I love the drawing. We se it everyday. I do think that most people to try their best to see all people as equal.
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@innertalks (22114)
• Australia
10 Jan 16
"I take a lot of pride in being myself. I'm comfortable with who I am."
James McAvoy, the Scottish actor said this.
Pride can be negative when we use it to inflate who we are. Prejudice can lead us to making hasty conclusions before we have all of the facts about an issue. In a positive sense though, pride can simply mean a sense of satisfaction that we can hold for knowing that we have done our best in a given situation.
Love has no prejudices about itself, nor does it hold any negative pride.
Love is humbly itself and also proud to be so, when it knows that it can be nothing else, when it loves totally and unconditionally in you, being you.
You said it well siva, we all have some degree of pride and prejudice within ourselves, I would agree with that.
@innertalks (22114)
• Australia
10 Jan 16
@Shiva49 Yes, that response was an analytical one.
Here's a more poetic one for you!!
Senryu: About pride
Is pride vanity?
Real pride in yourself saves you,
from your vanity.
@Shiva49 (26789)
• Singapore
10 Jan 16
@innertalks Yes Steve, let our pride be for genuine reasons, to be aware of our real worth and not to cross the limits. Thanks for the Senryu to drive home the point - siva
3 people like this
@Shiva49 (26789)
• Singapore
10 Jan 16
Thanks Steve for your analytical response. And also for the apt picture to highlight that pride has a place not only in our lives! I think the whole of creation is driven by pride to some extent though pure love overrides them all. The Creator is challenging us to match his love but we cannot even appreciate/return our mothers' love!
Pride can a be a positive attribute but can lead to a fall if we get carried away! Prejudice is mostly negative and impacts our life and restricts us. We have to be constantly vigilant not to fall prey to the negative forces around us - siva
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