06/03/2024
PRIDE PRECEDES A FALL!
It's a tale as old as time - a person starts off humble and grounded, but once they taste success and money, their attitude shifts. Pride creeps in, inflating their ego to dangerous levels until eventually, their arrogance leads to a mighty fall from grace.
Take for example a former friend of mine who is a pastor. In the early days of his small church, he was a warm, approachable man who appreciated being called "Pastor" by his flock. His genuine humility and desire to serve made him beloved in the community. However, as the years went by and his church's popularity exploded, bringing in tithing dollars by the truckload, things changed. Slowly but surely, This pastor began putting on airs. He demanded congregants refer to him as "Dad" rather than pastor. Fancy cars, tailored suits, and a gaudy mansion replaced his previously modest lifestyle. Those close to him say his casual arrogance caused a rift with long-time friends and staff who could no longer recognize the man he had become.
This trajectory isn't limited to the world of religion either. We've seen it time and again with entrepreneurs who start off passionate about their product or service, only to morph into entitled bosses once they strike it big. The same applies to politicians who began as servants of the people, but after acquiring power, they become drunk on their own self-importance. Even average employees can fall victim - a promotion and pay raise can lead to an inflated sense of superiority over former peers.
Perhaps the most dangerous form of pride stems from generational wealth, when young heirs develop a warped value system, believing they're inherently better than those raised with less affluence. This misguided conceit, devoid of any actual earned accomplishments, makes their inevitable fall from the pedestal they've been placed on that much more brutal.
The antidote to pride is a healthy sense of perspective and appreciation for one's roots. Remembering the hunger and drive that pushed you to succeed in the first place. Realizing that money and status are temporary and can evaporate as quickly as they arrived. Staying grounded by surrounding yourself with those who knew you before the trappings of success and won't shy away from calling out arrogant behavior. Because at the end of the day, pride truly does cometh before the fall - whether it's a fall from grace, a fall from power, or a fall from oneself.
