Proverbial Prideful Prison

Proverbial Prideful Prison, a photo by pdw's atelier on Flickr.

Pride goes before destruction,
and haughtiness before a fall.
(Proverbs 16:18)

Proud people take little account of their weaknesses and do not anticipate stumbling blocks. They think they are above the frailties of common people. In this state of mind they are easily tripped up. Ironically, proud people seldom realize that pride is their problem, although most folks around them are well aware of it. Inner pride is much like the back of your head... other people see it well, but you can only see it when aided by someone or something else. Outer pride is something else altogether... you make a conscience effort to be prideful; you are well aware of your pride; you don't care that you are proud; and you fail to see you are doing anything wrong by conceitedly basking in your glory, whether deserved or undeserved.

If you are not to proud to ask, go to someone you trust and learn whether self-satisfaction has blinded you to pride's warning signs.