Today, I’m going to briefly share an experience (nothing too personal) about something that I believe we all struggle with or have struggled with at one time or another: Pride.
You may be reading this and thinking to yourself, “I’m not a prideful person,” which is completely okay because I said the same thing not too long ago and I tried ever so strongly to convince myself of this, but the reality of it was the complete opposite.
Pride comes in different forms and is applicable to different areas of life, but no matter what area or category your pride falls into, they all do one terrible thing: hold us back from reaching our fullest potential.
I’ll use myself as an example as I promised. I take a lot of pride in my academics and I am not ashamed to say it. I have previously denied it but I now choose to accept it, because it is completely true. When it comes to anything having to do with school, I like to think I’m among the best of the best. I haven’t always been first but I have never been last or far from the top; that I can say with confidence. I was always one of those students that others came to ask help from but never asked anyone for help, and that’s where the pride comes in. All my accomplishments in terms of academics I achieved myself, (I mean, of course it was by the grace of God but besides that) and I applauded myself. I began to develop the mindset that I can make it academically on my own, that I could figure things out even if I didn’t know them right away, but boy oh boy was I wrong ! (haha)
Last fall I took Organic Chemistry part 1 (for all my pre-med students out there, I know you understand) and when I tell you my pride was hurt so much that I had to strip myself of it, that’s even an understatement. I saw the lowest grade I have ever seen in all of my academic career, a grade that I would have never thought that me of all people could earn (I really did earn that grade). I have my pride to thank for that but myself to blame. I knew from the beginning that I was struggling but I kept trying to convince myself that I would get it before the exam and before I knew it, it was exam day and I knew nothing. All I had to do was being like those students I helped in the past. They came to me for help, they got it and they succeeded. All I had to do was ask for help.
Don’t get me wrong, there is absolutely nothing wrong with being proud of the things that you have accomplished but do not let that feeling define you. Stay humble because,”The humble never stumble.” – Mimi
Your pride will let you down and hold you back, but humility is such a beautiful trait to have and I can testify to that just as much as I can testify that pride is a very ugly trait. You have potential to be so much more than you are now; so much more than you see yourself becoming, but you can only get there if you’re humble. You’re not too good to ask for help. Learning is a life long process and you don’t only learn from your own experiences but from others and their experiences.
Stay humble.
Heart Talk 