The hidden cost of pride

Have you had moments in your life when you felt pride in your achievements?

Imagine working in a team to achieve a significant milestone. Everyone put in equal effort, but you receive more recognition than others. Do you feel happy about this?

Many times, we get credit for work that wasn’t done alone. Even when we know this deep inside, we fail to acknowledge others and accept the recognition, believing it’s fair. Why doesn't our ego and pride stopping us from doing the right thing?

Everyone likes to feel important and be the center of attention. What if you were on the other side? What if someone else got the credit for your efforts and the recognition you deserved?

It’s a known fact that only one person can be “number one,” though everyone wants to be that person. There will always be people who get more than us. Being humble, accepting what we get, and not getting too excited or happy when we receive something is crucial.

Even if we don’t take credit for someone else’s work and deserve recognition for our hard work, it’s important to understand that we have the choice not to let success get to us. As people remember negative events more vividly than positive ones, boasting about our achievements can trigger painful memories for others. In our joy, we can forget how others feel. Savoring our successes might make us insensitive to others' feelings.

Our ability to notice changes in others might become diluted, and we might stop accepting feedback. Everyone is doing their best with the resources they have. We must acknowledge this fact.

Humans are social animals; we can’t survive without the help and support of others. Taking pride and feelings of self-importance only fuel our ego. Unless we consciously appreciate others who have been on the journey with us, our success won’t be genuinely deserved.

Here are some things you can do

• Share credit with those who contributed to your success.
• Stay humble and remember that success is a team effort.
• Be mindful of how your achievements might affect others' feelings.

Understanding the effects of excessive self-pride and self-importance, and how it impacts those around us, can make the difference between our successes and failures.

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