Emotion of the week: Pride – The Double-Edged Sword

This week, we’re tackling an emotion that can be both your best friend and your worst enemy: PRIDE.

PRIDE is powerful. It can

💪 fuel you

💪 lift you up

💪 make you feel like you can conquer the world

And, it also has a sneaky way of tripping you up if you’re not careful.

When PRIDE gets too big for its boots, it can stop you from

⚠️ being authentic

⚠️ growing

⚠️ connecting with others

Let’s Explore.

E – Explore: The Two Faces of Pride

PRIDE is one of those emotions that’s easy to ❤️ love ❤️ when it’s working in your favor.

It feels good to be proud of who you are and what you’ve accomplished.

I think of it as the light and bright side of PRIDE .

The Light Side: This is when PRIDE shows up as a sense of ownership over your

🌟 life

🌟 values

🌟 achievements

It’s that feeling when you stand tall because you know you’re living in alignment with who you truly are.

And then, there’s a flip side.

Ever heard the saying, “Pride comes before the fall”?

There is a hard truth in that saying and it is the shadow side of PRIDE.

🌫️ The Shadow Side: This is when PRIDE shows up as a barrier.

When you start holding onto it too tightly—maybe to protect an image or avoid vulnerability—it can keep you from

🚫 being the real you

🚫 admitting mistakes

🚫 asking for help when you need it

💡⁉️ What does the Light Side of PRIDE feel like to you?

💡⁉️ How does the Shadow Side of PRIDE show up for you?

M – Message: PRIDE is talking. Are you listening?

Pride always has something to say, whether it’s lifting you up or holding you back.

🌟 Light Side Message: Healthy pride is telling you, “Hey, look at how far you’ve come. You’ve earned this moment. Own it.”

It’s about feeling good in your skin, about being proud of the journey you’re on.

🌑 Shadow Side Message: When pride starts acting as a shield, it’s often trying to protect something deeper—like fear or insecurity.

Research shows that when we’re overly concerned with protecting our self-image, we might avoid situations that challenge us or expose our imperfections (Brene Brown, 2012).

That’s pride stepping in to say, “Don’t let them see you sweat,” but it’s really keeping you from growth.

💡⁉️ What is Pride Trying to Tell You?

O – Observe: Spotting Pride in Your Day-to-Day

Time for a quick self-check:  How does pride show up for you?

Light Side: Think about a time when you felt genuinely proud of something you did.

🌟 Was it nailing that presentation

🌟 Was it standing up for what you believe in

🌟 How did that feel? Energizing, excited, fulfilled?

Shadow Side: Now, think about a time when pride might have kept you from being real. Maybe you:

🚫 didn’t ask for help because you didn’t want to look weak

🚫 avoided a tough conversation because admitting you were wrong felt too hard

🚫 dismissed feedback because you couldn’t admit you needed to improve

Notice how that feels—kind of heavy, like a weight holding you back.

💡⁉️  Where is PRIDE showing up in your days?

T – Transform: Turning Pride into a Positive Force

Pride doesn’t have to be all or nothing.

The key is knowing when to lean into it and when to let it go.

Light Side Transformation:

🌟 Celebrate those moments when pride is lifting you up.

🌟 Use it as a confidence booster to propel you forward, especially when you’re staying true to yourself.

🌟 Channel that pride into setting new goals that align with your values.

It’s about owning your wins and being proud of the path you’re on.

Shadow Side Transformation

When you catch pride getting in the way

➡️ Challenge yourself to be a little more vulnerable.

➡️ Commit to opening up, the next time pride tells you to keep quiet and notice how empowering it feels.

➡️ Practice admitting when you're wrong, even if it's uncomfortable, to foster genuine growth and connection.

Research from Harvard Business School suggests that showing vulnerability can actually make you more relatable and build stronger connections (Brooks, 2014).

💡⁉️ How can you reframe PRIDE today?

E – Empower: Harnessing the True Power of Pride

PRIDE is positively powerful, and can be your greatest asset… WHEN it’s balanced.

This week, don't just allow yourself to feel proud—own it.

➡️ Give yourself permission to be proud of who you are.

➡️ Embrace the victories, big or small, that define your journey.

➡️ Acknowledge the challenges you've overcome as part of your success story

AND, be mindful of when pride might be holding you back.

It’s easy to let it

🚫 cloud your judgment

🚫 make you resistant to feedback

🚫 stop you from reaching out for help

True strength lies not in appearing flawless, but in the courage to be vulnerable, to admit when you need support, and to grow from it. Pride should elevate you, not isolate you.

This week, challenge yourself to strike a powerful balance—where PRIDE fuels progress, not perfection.

💡⁉️ How can you channel pride into a force that drives you forward, without letting it become a barrier?