PROUD/PRIDE = GOOD?
I reckon if you polled the public on whether pride is a positive or a negatve trait, you'd get really varied responses. Why?
Phrases like "pride comes before for a fall" and (said in a derogatory way) "she looks so PROUD of herself" are very negative. But, conversely, to have pride in your work or be proud of your achievements is a very good thing.
I guess it's all about hypocrisy. It's ok to have pride IF you'd achieved something first. However I don't think this is foremost in our everyday minds. I think many people tend to have a prejudice towards thinking one way or the other about pride.
I've just been thinking about it because I've been feeling a bit 'lost' for a few years, yet I've been finding myself getting really happy about the smallest things since I bought my own property five months ago and began doing work to improve it all. I've been thinking a lot about how it seems to be psychologically healthier to do things that lead to personal pride, rather than to do things that simply entertain.
It's as if our ability to enjoy our free time and improve our psychological health could be increased a lot, if only we could develop a more positive attitude about pride. My best guess is that whoever invented the term "pride comes before a fall" probably had an oppressive upbringing!
I reckon if you polled the public on whether pride is a positive or a negatve trait, you'd get really varied responses. Why?
Phrases like "pride comes before for a fall" and (said in a derogatory way) "she looks so PROUD of herself" are very negative. But, conversely, to have pride in your work or be proud of your achievements is a very good thing.
I guess it's all about hypocrisy. It's ok to have pride IF you'd achieved something first. However I don't think this is foremost in our everyday minds. I think many people tend to have a prejudice towards thinking one way or the other about pride.
I've just been thinking about it because I've been feeling a bit 'lost' for a few years, yet I've been finding myself getting really happy about the smallest things since I bought my own property five months ago and began doing work to improve it all. I've been thinking a lot about how it seems to be psychologically healthier to do things that lead to personal pride, rather than to do things that simply entertain.
It's as if our ability to enjoy our free time and improve our psychological health could be increased a lot, if only we could develop a more positive attitude about pride. My best guess is that whoever invented the term "pride comes before a fall" probably had an oppressive upbringing!