The Purpose of Pride
Motivation, Anxiety and Achievement
Emotions aren’t good or bad, they just happen. Somehow, pride has acquired a reputation as nasty and narcissistic; but like any emotion, it energises a particular pattern of behaviour.
Pride swells our heart and raises our aspirations. Where shame makes us hide away, pride emboldens us to reach higher. Our eyes lift up to meet the gaze of any onlooker, where shame directs us downwards. The purpose of pride is to motivate the pursuit of greater challenge; it is the token of achievement that invites a forward focus into the future.
Emotions are stepping stones to action; waves to ride into authentic and potent movement. When inwardly motivated, we are capable of significant displays of strength and tenacity; whereas obligation and external pressure produce short-lived and lacklustre performances. Pride naturally emerges through the recognition of achievement, and affords us with the opportunity to seek new and greater challenge.
In this way, pride has an indirect but important relationship with anxiety. Anxiety is an overriding experience of uncertainty; often leading beliefs that one is unable to effect their environment and realise their goals. Studies show that self-efficacy (the belief that one can influence their environment) is strongly negatively correlated with anxiety.
I am oversimplifying a complex issue, but the more we believe in our ability to shape the world, the less anxious we are. Pride can open the door to greater challenges, helping us realise goals that were once inaccessible. From that experience, we build an inner resource of confidence to draw from.
False pride
Emotions naturally come and go. Watch a baby move from tears of rage to giggles of joy within a span of seconds. However, as adults those stepping stones of emotion often become armour for the ego. Past achievements, when held too tightly, are an example of this.
When we denigrate pride, I think we’re referring to false pride; that rigid and arrogant posturing that fills the space left by shame. False pride tries to steal the power of real pride. When we artificially adopt the bodily attitude that pride produces, our stance stiffens in defiance. The chest is raised; not with the flexibility of the unconscious, but through the inflated and rigid machinations of the mind. Forward looking presence is exchanged for backwards looking assurance.
I think we can really learn to surf the waves of emotion in the direction of our values; what we really care about. This is frightening, because it places us in relationship to an unknown future, instead of a familiar past. But uncertainty is that jittery passport to the world of the living. By motivating us to constantly exceed our plateaus, pride becomes a force for growth and confidence; it invites us to explore what the world can offer us, and what we can offer the world.
What are you proud of?
I’m proud of the work I’m doing on joy and positive emotion. I’m proud that I’ve followed this strange and uncertain path to a point of financial viability. I’m proud to have earnt the trust of so many bright and brilliant individuals.
What does your pride motivate you to do?
I feel like this work is really meaningful, and can help a lot of people. That makes me want to scale it, and deliver it to more individuals around the world.
I’d love to hear what you’re proud of, and what that motivates you to do!