PRIDE MAKES CAREGIVING DIFFICULT
& Other Things
It can be very difficult to Care for a Prideful Person.
Miriam-Webster’s dictionary defines “pride” as a reasonable or justifiable sense of one’s worth or importance. Similar words are confidence, self-respect and ego.
That doesn’t sound that bad.
However…
Pride – is considered the original and most serious of the seven deadly sins. Defined as excessive, unwarranted love of one’s own excellence and the root from which all other sins grow.
The seven deadly sins are not expressly written in the Bible nor the Torah, but Pride is indeed mentioned.
With pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom. (Proverbs 13:10)
A man’s pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor. (Proverbs 29:23)
And your heart will be proud and you will forget the Lord, your God (Deuteronomy 8:14)
Whenever “Pride” appears in a spiritual verse, it is as a negative quality. It is never noted as a positive character trait. In those terms, it is said that Pride keeps one away from submitting to God; thus, indicating that perhaps one does not need God.
However…
In the World we live in, there are circumstances when pride is welcomed.
Having pride in one’s work is important.
Having enough pride—confidence in oneself is needed in order to be successful.
A healthy dose of pride—self-respect is necessary to not allow people to walk all over you.
And for New Yorkers there is The Pride of the Yankees!
And so…
When then does Pride turn from good to evil?
When self-confidence turns into denial.
When having an ego turns narcissistic.
When self-respect leads to a lack of respect for others.
And when that happens—
PRIDE…
Does not allow you to ask for help when you need it.
Makes you think that you can do everything alone when in reality you can’t.
Keeps you from thinking about others because the entire focus is on yourself.
Pride is a force.
Pride is a screen that doesn’t show the truth.
My Mother has a great deal of Pride.
Pride makes Caregiving difficult.
A CAREGIVER'S CONFIDENCE
I have always been confident. I have always been successful. I set goals and then do what needs to be done to achieve them. I have been that person for as long as I can remember.
I love how you pointed out that pride can be good or bad. It can get in the way of the one who needs help and the one who is helping.
Our moms must be cut from the same cloth. Her damn pride makes me want to choke sometimes... 😩