Sometimes, you just have to give yourself a pat on the back. Whether it’s for overcoming a small obstacle on your path to success or finishing that term paper that’s been in the back of your mind since the beginning of the semester, you deserve to give yourself some recognition. Go you!
But understand the difference between being proud of your accomplishments and sounding like you’re trying to outdo everyone else. It’s OK to be excited and want to share the news of the brand new internship you landed or the once-in-a-lifetime trip you get to go on, but it’s really not okay to share how much money you made by doing so or how great you are now that you have a powerful job.
Remember this advice: humility over superiority. Look back on the days when you had nothing. Remember when your parents taught you to say “Yes, sir” and “No, ma’am” to authority figures. Remember when you were at the bottom of the food chain and had to work your way up. Remember the superiors that you came into contact with. Were they generous? Were they narcissistic? Did they encourage you or make you feel worthless? I bet their characteristics and qualities came from the same mentors they had, just like yours may have influenced the way you act. Aim to be the best you can be, but remember to stay humble.
As a maturing adult, I’ve had many opportunities that have gotten me to where I am now, and I’m damn proud of them. When something I feel is worth noting happens, the first thing I look to do is share it with my friends and family. However, I never want to be seen as a person who is self-centered and egotistical. I remain humble, yet I appreciate all of my opportunities and accomplishments. When I started college, my parents told me this: “Keep your options open, and always be thankful, no matter what.” To this day, that quote remains in the back of my mind; it’s helped me make decisions, it’s helped me choose the path I want to take career-wise, and it’s allowed me to have many different options that I might otherwise never have had.
I have been blessed with an extraordinary number of choices in my life, but that’s exactly what they are: blessings. Nothing is handed to you, and nothing can be done without hard work to show for it. In my opinion, that’s where the difference between humility and arrogance lies—it’s about the amount of work and effort you put into it. For those who are handed everything on a silver platter (or maybe its gold), they tend to remain arrogant. For those who have worked long and hard for something they feel strongly about, they tend to feel proud and humble about their accomplishments. This may not be true in all cases, but in my experience this is what I’ve come to learn.
“Don’t let proud get to your head, always humble yourself.” - Henry Johnson Jr.
Work hard. Stay humble. Remain proud. Words to live by.
