Pride

“It is better to lose your pride with someone you love rather than to lose that someone you love with your useless pride.”

“Temper gets you into trouble. Pride keeps you there.”

According to Buddism, Buddha was able to destroy the four "Maras". The four "Maras" are death, distraction, pride, and emotional obscurations. These are very powerful things and it takes an even more powerful person to overcome them. I'm sure that all the Maras are extremely important but the one that stuck out at me most was pride.

In today's society it seems that everyone is ran by their ego which handicaps our experience of life. How can you live to the fullest when you shut down great opportunities in order to protect our pride? I know that if I wasn't so fearful of getting humiliated or being rejected it, life is a never ending hallway. Sure we may meet some dead ends but we'll also discover amazing opportunities and people.

As human's we cannot be perfect and it is easy to fall into the trap of sheilding our pride but we can ease our learned habit and allow our walls to lower. For example instead of staying to yourself in a place you don't know anyone, dare to introduce yourself and spark a conversation with someone (better yet do it with someone you wouldn't usually talk to).

Question: What are you scared socially?

“A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.” - Walter Winchell

“No one ever choked to death swallowing his pride”