Be Proud of Yourself: The Power of Fostering Self-Pride

Learning to feel proud of yourself is an important part of wellbeing. It allows you to recognize your strengths, accomplishments, and positive qualities. However, for many people, pride is an emotion that feels uncomfortable or something to avoid rather than embrace.

What Does it Mean to Be Proud of Yourself?

Being proud means acknowledging the things you have achieved, overcome, or improved at. It is recognizing the progress you have made, whether in your work, relationships, health, personal growth, or other areas of life.

Some examples include:

Learning a new skill
Pushing yourself outside your comfort zone
Making positive changes to improve your mental or physical wellbeing
Overcoming challenging life circumstances
Making someone else’s life better through your actions

Why Is Pride Difficult for Some People?

Though being proud seems simple, many find it challenging for reasons like:

Cultural norms or upbringing – Some cultures discourage pride as boastful or self-promoting
Perfectionism – Holding yourself to unrealistic standards makes it hard to feel proud when you view achievements as inadequate
Self-criticism – A negative self-narrative focuses more on flaws than positive qualities
Impostor syndrome – Feeling like a “fraud” and downplaying abilities or accomplishments

How to Start Feeling More Proud

It takes practice, but you can absolutely cultivate feelings of pride in yourself. Here are some tips:

Keep a success journal – Document your progress and achievements to read when you need a reminder.
Look at obstacles you’ve overcome – Even small daily wins count. Reflect on how far you’ve come.
Accept compliments – Instead of deflecting praise, graciously take it to heart.
Challenge negative self-talk – Counter untrue criticisms with realistic assessments of your strengths.
Set self-compassionate goals – Aim for reasonable targets that stretch but don’t strain you.
Reward yourself – Treat yourself for reaching milestones through healthy self-care activities.

The Benefits of Taking Pride in Yourself

Learning self-pride can profoundly impact wellbeing by:

Increasing self-confidence and self-esteem
Motivating you to take on new challenges
Enhancing resilience in difficult times
Reducing symptoms of anxiety or depression
Improving physical health through reduced stress

The simple act of acknowledging the meaningful things you do makes all the difference. Be kind, acknowledge your efforts, and give yourself credit. You deserve to feel proud.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an example of a small accomplishment to feel proud of?

Small accomplishments that deserve pride include learning a new recipe, finishing a book, taking a walk for exercise, completing a project at home, or having a difficult conversation.

Why do I feel bad or guilty when I feel proud?

Feeling guilty about pride often results from cultural or societal norms discouraging pride. It also connects to perfectionism, impostor syndrome, and negative self-talk. Challenge notions that self-pride must be earned or is conceited.

Can I feel proud on behalf of my child or loved one?

Yes, you can absolutely feel pride for others’ accomplishments. Celebrate loved ones’ achievements while also embracing your own. Supporting one another builds self-confidence all around.

What if I can’t think of anything to feel proud of?

It’s common to focus on flaws and failures over successes. Intentionally devote time to reflect on past challenges overcome, obstacles cleared, and daily habits improved. Write these down to read later as needed for encouragement.

How can I talk to my friend who struggles with pride?

Gently encourage them when you notice effort, progress or positive qualities. Remind them comparison breeds discontentment. Recommend self-care activities as rewards for milestones. Most importantly, listen without judgment and meet discouragement with compassion.