By Dr. Sunday de John
Nairobi, Kenya,
The emotion of pride may be defined as a sense of profound fulfilment or success that arises as a result of one’s own accomplishments, characteristics, or assets. When it is founded on true accomplishments or traits and when it results in increased levels of self-confidence, self-esteem, and a sense of personal worth, pride has the potential to be a beneficial emotion.
However, pride may take a bad turn when it is out of proportion or misdirected. This can result in traits such as arrogance, egotism, and a sense of superiority over other people.
In this regard, it is essential for children and teenagers to have a healthy sense of pride in their accomplishments, abilities, and other aspects of their personhood. This can help them develop confidence, self-esteem, and resilience, all of which are vital for their general well-being as well as the success they will have in life.
Conversely, it is important for young people to be careful not to become overly proud or arrogant, since this might have unfavourable effects on their lives. An unhealthy amount of pride may result in a sense of entitlement, a lack of empathy for other people, and an inability to accept feedback or learn from one’s errors. In addition to this, it can result in strained relationships with one’s family, classmates, and those in positions of power, as well as limit possibilities for one’s own personal growth and development.
Because of this, it is essential for young people to strike a balance between healthy pride and humility, as well as to cultivate a growth mindset that places a high value on learning, feedback, and ongoing progress. This way, they will be able to cultivate a robust sense of self-worth and realise their full potential if they do so; in addition, they will be able to cultivate meaningful connections and contribute to the well-being of others.
Having an unhealthy amount of pride may be detrimental to intellectual progress since it reduces a person’s motivation to study and improve. If a person is unable to acknowledge their errors or take criticism, they run the risk of missing out on possibilities for personal development and advancement. They may also be less prone to seek out new information or to dispute the attitudes and assumptions with which they already operate.
To advance intellectually, one must cultivate a sense of humility, curiosity, and an openness to admitting when one is ignorant of something or when one has made a mistake. We may increase both the scope of our knowledge and the depth of our comprehension of the universe by maintaining an open mind towards both feedback and new information. On the other hand, if we are unable to admit that we have shortcomings or to take constructive criticism, we run the risk of becoming rigid in our thinking and stunting our intellectual development.
In light of this, it is essential to have a healthy feeling of pride that is balanced with humility and a growth attitude. This can make it easier for us to maintain openness to new ideas and points of view, to welcome challenges and chances for personal development, and to keep broadening the scope of our intellectual pursuits.
There is no requirement to brag excessively about one’s own academic accomplishments in conversation. While it is normal to take pride in one’s achievements and to want to tell people about them, it is also possible to come across as pompous and egoistic if one repeatedly talks about those successes. It is also possible for it to put other people off and give them the impression that they are disconnected from social circumstances.
It is essential to find a middle ground between boasting about one’s achievements and acting modestly in regard to those efforts. Instead of continually talking about one’s accomplishments, it may be more useful to emphasise the skills and information obtained via education, and how they may be utilized to assist others. For example, rather than always talking about how much wealth one has, one could talk about how much time one has spent volunteering.
We can motivate other people to follow their own educational ambitions and have a good influence on the world by drawing attention to the significance of education and the ways in which it may contribute to both individual and social development.
It is appropriate to take pride in one’s educational accomplishments; yet, it is critical to exercise caution in the manner in which these accomplishments are communicated to others and to refrain from engaging in excessive self-promotion. Instead, we should concentrate on the many advantages of education and the ways in which it may be utilized to make a contribution to society, both locally and globally.
It is also okay for those with less education to pass judgement on others with more education. Formal education is not the only measure of intellect or competence; rather, it may give a vital foundation of information and abilities to build upon. There are a great number of people in the world who might not have completed their official education but have accumulated a wealth of knowledge and experience in other spheres. Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg are good examples in this sense.
In point of fact, it is frequently beneficial to seek out a variety of opinions and input from people who come from a variety of backgrounds and have had a variety of experiences. This can assist us widen our grasp of a subject, reveal blind spots or places for development, produce new ideas and insights, and suggest areas where change is needed.
In addition, it is essential to understand that education is not a one-time occurrence but rather a continuous process of learning and development throughout one’s whole life. As a result, regardless of the amount of formal education that a person has, we may all gain something from the feedback and evaluation that others provide.
In this regard, those functionally illiterate individuals who boast excessively about their degrees have room for improvement and can contribute to the value of their degrees. While we possess academic degrees, we must keep in mind that papers for the sake of papers do not contribute to the greater good of society. If papers were knowledge transmitters, those in possession of fraudulent academic papers would demonstrate competence.
Despite the fact that having a formal education might be a helpful sign of knowledge and abilities, it should not be the only measure of intelligence or competence. Because it may serve to support continual learning and progress, maintaining openness to feedback and assessment from people who come from a varied range of backgrounds and experiences is something that must be prioritized.
Till then, yours truly, Mr. Teetotaler!
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