Wow, over a month since my last post; I took quite the extended Christmas break.
Now I'm back, and on a philosophical tangent.
Between New Year's resolutions, starting a new term in school, realizing I graduate this year, trying to figure out what area I want to work in, and that with a nursing degree, I could move anywhere, lots of things are currently or will soon change in my life. Change is sometimes difficult (duh) but when I get through it and know I am a better, stronger person, I feel proud of myself.
In French, there are two words for pride. One, orgueil, has a negative connotation we Americans usually associate with pride. The other, fierté, is a positive thing.
So I'm wondering and asking for your input on this. Can you have a good kind of pride, especially in yourself and your accomplishments? What do you call that - pride? self-respect? what? Is that too non-humble (trying to not use the pride since that is what I am trying to define)?
And what about the gospel aspect of this question - Recognizing the Lord's hand in all things, giving thanks for the blessings and strength I've been given that allow me to accomplish those goals or get through school? Should my pride or excitement be limited to the fact that I only use the tools and talents I have been given.
Should I just say things like, "Wow, I survived," "Yep, it was hard," or if I throw humility to the wind and am completely self-promotional, "I'm excited for myself!"
I'm expecting lots of praise in the near future so I need to know just how smug I can be.
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6 comments:
Is pride evil? No, it is a word. What matters is the connection the word implies. I see that you are proud of what you have accomplished. Would you take those accomplishments and hold yourself above others? No, I think you're okay to feel a sense of accomplishment.
I love that comment. Mine seems useless now...
I think there is a huge difference between arrogance and having self-worth. It's definitely okay to feel as if you're excited about something. Isn't that why we're on this journey? To grow and to be happy about it?
I'm excited for you as well! I'm also excited that I get to know you and get to watch you and walk with you along the journey to "what's next." (So was I being prideful of my friendship there or just grateful?) :)
So feel excited! Boastful even if you feel! It's a big accomplishment and you get to use that accomplishment to try newer and possibly even more exciting things!
hi ansley. you know what's odd, i know another ansley who's a nurse, but who lives in denver. weird.
so, about the pride thing... i've heard that "pride in all forms is negative." i think pride leads to a lot of social ills. too much pride in your country yields crazy nationalism. too much pride in your race yields racism. too much pride in your religion yields fundamentalism and ignorance. too much pride in your gender yields sexism... ageism, classism... the list goes on and on.
the operative term being "too much" of course. but that's also an inherent problem in pride. there is no internal regulator, and it seems to be a very slippery slope for most people. i think often we can use happiness to supplant pride. "i'm proud of my sister graduating summa cum laude." "i'm happy for my sister, who graduated summa cum laude." semantics? perhaps, but i think the minute distinctions make a big difference in the long run. pride exists by comparing and elevating. there's nothing equal about pride.
ansley.... how did you find my blog?
also, what faith are you?
Thank you so much everyone for your comments. I guess it's from learning another language on my mission, but I often think about not only the meanings of words but also their connotations.
Mr. Clark - I found your blog on a day I should have been studying but really didn't want to. I was looking on my friend Ninny Beth's blog, http://normalgirls.blogspot.com, then looked at the blog of someone who left a comment on her page, curious about his name, http://bigguywhokills.blogspot.com, then noticed one of the people who posted a comment on his page was also on several of my friends pages, http://aisyworld.blogspot.com, and in one of her comments, being a sucker for cool glasses, I clicked on a link to your blog and found a post about grammar. It's a small Mormon world.
So yes, to answer your second question, I am LDS.
Mr. Clark that's a perfect response. Couldn't have said it better myself.
How many members of U2 does it take to screw in a light bulb?
One. Bono just has to hold the bulb in place because the world revolves around him.
U2 will die come the music revolution.
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