Toxic pride

There is such a thing as healthy pride. It comes from our awareness that we have inherent worth and purpose, having been created in God’s image.

- FR. ROLANDO Y. DELA ROSA, O.P.

This kind of pride inspires us to grow, strive for excellence, and live out our God-given potential. It strengthens us to uphold our dignity and to stand up for what is good and right. When we are truly proud of who we are, criticism and failure lose their power to hurt us.

Yet pride, if unchecked, can easily mutate into malignant self-love. In its most dangerous form, toxic pride makes us crave constant praise because we think we are better and more deserving than others. This sense of entitlement fuels a never-ending desire for wealth, power, and status. We begin to think that we should have more, simply because we deserve more. Indeed, toxic pride can easily lead to greed.