Good To GreatSample

Kill the Pride

In his book, ‘Winning with People’, John Maxwell talks about different kinds of learning attitudes. He says that there are basically three types of attitudes: arrogant, naive and teachable. All of us possess one of these attitudes. The Arrogant people think they don't need to learn anything from anyone. Naive people believe that only one person can teach them everything, while the teachable people learn from everyone and everything that is around them. He concludes that the people who make an impact on others around them are the ones who are teachable.

As we get familiar with the stories and lessons of the heroic acts, we tend to believe and behave as if we have heard it before and we know it all. This breeds indifference which ultimately leads to an ‘I know it all’ attitude. The other name for this kind of an attitude is Pride.

Kill the Pride

“First pride, then the crash—the bigger the ego, the harder the fall” (Proverbs 16:18 MSG). When a person begins to believe that he knows everything that there is to know, he has taken the path of self-destruction. This attitude is dangerous as it produces damaging results. For starters, it blinds us from all truth. We are shut from any new revelations or further knowledge and this stunts our overall personal growth. “Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” (Proverbs 26:12 ESV)

Our pride keeps us in the same place we are in right now and we don't grow to newer heights. Another danger is that we end up making the same mistakes over and over again. Since we are not open to learning, and we believe that we know everything and that everything we are doing is perfect and right, we become blind to our own mistakes. We continue to fall, again and again, unable to figure out what’s wrong. Its most damaging aspect is that, it begins to strain our relationships with others.

The truth is, we are not born with this attitude, but we’ve all learnt it. Hence the good news is, we can unlearn it. Getting rid of the ‘I know it all’ attitude is possible if we are willing to pay attention. Willingness to listen helps us to become teachable.

The most difficult part in the unlearning process is to agree that we are arrogant. People don't agree they are prideful, instead they rationalize, minimize or deny it. So it takes honesty to have a real look at your ‘self’ and come to terms with your attitude. When a person can agree that he has been full of pride, it is easy for him to become a learner.

Today, check your heart. Are you teachable? Jesus says, “God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.” (Matthew 5:5 NLT); If you are struggling with pride, confess it and become open for God to teach you. When you choose to make a change in your heart, it will bring prosperity. (Proverbs 16:20)