If you believe that ego is basically an over inflated sense of self-worth, and that pride is a sin – then are they really the same thing, and if not, how do they actually differ from each other?
I’m sure that most people will ask this question of themselves at some time during their life.
Ego, in its most basic sense is a feeling of superiority to others and has a rather negative association. Or at least it invokes a feeling of separation from others.
Pride is a feeling of satisfaction we get when we achieve something that was difficult to do. Of course, you can also talk about the sense of pride we feel in what our friends, relatives or football team do, but in this instance we are talking about the feelings of pride we get due to our own achievements.
While pride can appear to be nothing more than an ego boost, it can also be a great motivator for you to perform better at sport, excel in academics, or be more demanding in the expectations that we have of ourselves.
Pride and shame are polar opposites, so you could argue that pride is a positive facet of ego and shame a negative one when the ego is discussed in the real terms of what it is: the development of our mental concept of self.
In many ways, ego and pride are 2 sides of the same coin and both have a basis in vanity. Pride will make you feel good about yourself when you feel that you have achieved something greater than others have. Then the ego may come into play to keep the id in check so that we always portray a socially acceptable face to society. You must have heard the saying “Pride comes before a fall”, and this suggests that the ego that is built up can also be deflated.
Because most people aren’t really interested in delving deep into psychological concepts and choose to accept common mistruths, there’s no easy way to determine what the actual difference is between ego and pride. Each will probably have a different meaning according to who you ask related to their own view of what’s “real”.
So, as you can see, both ego and pride have positive and negative aspects associated with them, so perhaps the only way to contrast them is to compare them. Is a sense of pride in one’s self the same as a sense of pride in one’s ego? The ego can quite happily survive on its own, and so, in that case, is neither good nor bad, whereas a sense of pride in that ego is seen as bad because it is an indication that one feels superior to others in one’s self-development.
As you can see, it’s not a simple matter to discuss, but the next time you feel superior to someone else, why not give your ego a break. And remember that it’s pride that may be pushing you to fall.
Have you ever noticed that charismatic people are usually quite popular and it’s probably safe to assume that many of us envy those who have charisma. But could it also be a double-edged sword? Charisma is a learned skill so anyone has the capability to learn how to gain, and use it. But when you get it, will you be ready for it?
One thing you will notice about people who are charismatic is that they tenmd to be the constant focus of attention. That is the nature of charisma as people are naturally drawn to it. And many will enjoy the attention. But think about it for a second; if people are always coming to you at work, for instance, how are you ever going to have the time to get your own work done? Some may think that this is a good problem to have, but it can become rather frustrating and a darn nuisance if it happens too much.
People will also tend to speak to others about charismatic people. They will tell their friends and colleagues what great people they are and that they are proud to call them a friend. Of course, this could lead to those friends and colleagues seeking him or her out and this unfortunate charimatic person will have even more attention to deal with. These new people will also end up telling their friend and colleagues as well and exacerbate this even more!
If you are charismatic and people are drawn to you then they are also going to come to you for advice. They will rely on any advice you give. That may be okay if you are an expert in the subject that they asked about. But what if you are not and you give them the wrong advice and they take it.This could be potentially embarrasing for them and they could be getting into a situation that may not be good for them. While people are responsible for their own actions, it doesn’t help when someone with charisma gives advice as that advice is likely going to be acted upon. The charismatic person sometimes revels in the title of advice giver, even if the advice is not useful. This may not be intentionaly malicious, more misguided.
Your home life could also be affected by your increased charisma. You may find that more people are calling on you to join them in various activities, like joining the softball league or coaching kids soccer games. These may all be activities you wanted to get involved with but they will be ever increasing opportunities. Those days of relaxing on Sundays are suddenly a thing of the past!
For the most part, being charismatic is a good quality to have and one that most people would love to incorporate into their life. It may even put you into a leadership role along with a promotion. But be ready for the changes that happen and try to keep grounded in what it’s going to mean for others as well as the impact it may have on you and your family.
At some point during your life, you may be put in a situation where you need to start over. Whatever the reason you find yourself in, setting goals for your new way of life is going to help you tremendously. It could mean the difference between making it work and stagnating. Pursuing the right goals can give you a boost in confidence that change is positive. This is crucial when contemplating starting over.
When starting over, you want to explore as many avenues as possible to see what may work for you. Take advantage of any training that may help you discover what direction you want to take. Setting up solid goals is going to help reduce your risk of becoming discouraged. This is a common affliction with people who are starting over. Writing down your goals and referring to them will ease your mind by showing you there is something to strive for.
While it is a scary proposition to start over, it can also be a time for encouragement. You can think of it as a fresh new outlook on your life and with that comes exciting new experiences that may have been missing from what you were doing before. Think back to when you first started out in your previous situation. Your memories are probably filled with looking forward to going to work each day as you were learning something new. This can happen again for you.
