You think of the seven deadly sins – pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth – and your mind may go to religious beliefs of actions that will lead to eternal death. Let’s take a look a pride for a moment. Can this word really be the original and most serious of the seven deadly sins? The thought that humans are more like God?
Your parents, teachers, coaches, or friends may tell you that they are proud of you for your accomplishments. You may be proud of yourself, as well – you’ve probably worked hard to reach the moment worthy of pride. Is that really so bad? What if you are successful at business and became the first / youngest CEO to achieve a milestone in your industry, or what if you are athletic and have set a world record in your favorite sport, or maybe you are academic and have found a cure for cancer?
Maybe you are a little more normal, a little more average. You might not be a CEO, or have a contract with a sports apparel company, or even win a Nobel Prize, but you give part of yourself to make something better for others. Maybe you are someone who volunteers at the local food pantry without posting it on social media. Maybe you are someone who helps a sick or aging neighbor with household tasks without payment or thanks. Maybe you are someone who joins the table of “outsiders” at lunch and genuinely smiles when you talk to them. Are these not things to be proud of, as well?
What about the perception of doing good to others only when there is praise or recognitions? No matter what your intentions are, there will always be someone who questions your motive. And they may even spread stories about your intentions that aren’t true. Does this take away from your desire to make a change for the better? I hope not. What if this person is someone who is close to you – someone you love and considered yourself a close relationship, like a friend, a confidant, or even someone as close as your own mother? Those moments can feel like a betrayal worthy of Judas. Those are the moments where you reflect on your own intentions and keep going and to keep doing good, no matter the nay-sayers. Their definition of pride, where their alternative reason for your actions are different from the intent of your heart, should not be aligned with the humility you approach your life with.
Don’t let someone else’s definition of pride about your actions detract from your intrinsic desire to make the world better – one smile at a time. It isn’t up to someone else to judge your actions and cast you as the sinner, especially when your impact is a positive one.
“If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; be kind anyway.”
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Reflections of Anyway 