Why Pride? Part III: When Giants Stay Grounded 🌟

Self-Awareness

Self-awareness: The Cornerstone of True Pride

In our realm of skepticism, many question the necessity of "True Pride" for achieving success. However, this notion is not as outlandish as it might initially seem. Numerous successful figures embody True Pride, a quality distinct from the pitfalls of arrogance and delusion. 

True Pride is a healthy sense of accomplishment that is grounded in self-awareness and humility. It stems from a continuous process of self-reflection. By constantly asking "Who am I?", we gain a grounded understanding of our strengths, weaknesses, and accomplishments. This self-awareness prevents us from falling into the trap of ignorance, which can fuel arrogance and a false sense of superiority.

In this part of the article "Why Pride," we'll explore self-awareness, the cornerstone of cultivating genuine pride, through the examples of prominent individuals.

By being self-aware about one's strengths, weaknesses, privileges, support systems, and the contextual factors that enabled success, an individual is much better positioned to take pride in their accomplishments in a grounded, humble, and constructive way.

Lack of self-awareness, on the other hand, can lead to inflated egos, entitlement, failing to give credit where due, and succumbing to the trappings of False Pride.

Self-awareness involves understanding that achievements, while worthy of pride, do not make you inherently superior to others. Self-awareness means recognizing that success often results from a combination of hard work, fortunate circumstances, support from others, and building upon the knowledge and efforts of those who came before you.

Let's look at a real-life examples illustrating self-awareness as a key aspect of True Pride:

Marie Curie

Maria Curie

Despite her immense scientific fame (20th century radioactivity pioneer), Marie Curie displayed remarkable self-awareness about the international nature of scientific progress. During her time, science was often viewed through a nationalistic lens. Curie, a Polish researcher in France, challenged this perspective. She famously stated that science is "essentially international" and transcends borders. 

For Curie, scientific discovery was a collaborative effort built upon the work of countless scholars across cultures and throughout history. Her belief in science as a unifying human endeavor exemplifies the self-awareness that true pride requires.

Andrew Carnegie

Andrew Carnegie

Businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who established the Carnegie Corporation and built one of the most massive fortunes of the 19th century, demonstrated self-awareness in his later years. Despite his immense wealth and success, he acknowledged the role of luck and timing, stating, "I resolved to stop accumulating and begin the infinitely more serious and difficult task of wise distribution." 

Carnegie's self-awareness led him to dedicate a significant portion of his wealth to establishing libraries, universities, and charitable organizations, recognizing that his fortune alone did not define his true legacy.

Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan is considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Despite his numerous achievements and accolades, he displayed remarkable self-awareness about his own limitations. 

In his famous "Flu Game" during the 1997 NBA Finals, Jordan was battling food poisoning but still managed to score 38 points. After the game, he humbly stated, "I almost played myself into passing out...I could barely breathe." 

Despite his heroic performance, Jordan acknowledged his physical struggles and the toll the game took on him, rather than boasting about his superhuman effort.

The examples of Michael Jordan, Marie Curie, and Andrew Carnegie illustrate how maintaining self-awareness, even at the highest levels of achievement, is crucial for embodying True Pride. While their specific contexts varied – athletics, scientific discovery, and business success – a common thread emerges. 

Personal Growth

Self-awareness enabled them to view their accomplishments with humility and gratitude. It also fostered a broader perspective that extended beyond individual accolades.

It grounded them in the understanding that success is a multifaceted journey, built upon the contributions of others and fortified by circumstances that often transcend personal abilities alone.

As these examples demonstrate, self-awareness is a multifaceted trait encompassing several key aspects that safeguard against the pitfalls of arrogance and False Pride. Here are some examples of these key aspects:

1. Acknowledging limitations and struggles, even amidst great feats (e.g. Michael Jordan's "Flu Game")
2. Giving credit to mentors, collaborators, and the broader community that enabled achievements (e.g. Marie Curie on science being an international endeavor)
3. Maintaining perspective that individual accomplishments are part of a larger historical/cultural context (e.g. Andrew Carnegie on wise wealth distribution)
4. Avoiding arrogance or a sense of being inherently better/more deserving than others
5. Ability to separate self-worth from external accomplishments and accolades

Self-awareness allows for justifiable pride in one's hard work and achievements, while still maintaining humility, appreciating others' contributions, and recognizing that continued growth depends on honestly evaluating strengths and weaknesses. It is the antidote to the dangerous pitfalls of arrogance, entitlement and false pride.

Lack of self-awareness, on another hand, could lead to False Pride traps such as arrogance, and distancing yourself from others based on a faulty perception of yourself as a superior being. Ultimately, it can lead to a loss of moral clarity and a disconnection from one's true values and purpose.

Self-awareness is a multifaceted journey, and its exploration can be enriched through various avenues. Fiction, for example, provides a unique lens to examine the complexities of human character and the impact of self-perception or lack of it. 

In My Novel, "Melissa"

In my Novel, "Melissa," embark on a captivating journey of self-discovery with Nathan, a brilliant scientist whose ambitious pursuit takes a dangerous turn. Will Nathan learn the valuable lesson of True Pride before it's too late? 

Sign up for your FREE ebook of "Melissa" on launch day and discover Nathan's fate!