Is there any distinction between ego & pride at all? Are they synonymous?
Pride as such is a positive and healthy feeling if practiced in the right sense. One can be proud of his country, his nation, his parents, his off-springs, his family…………
Ego creeps in when these feelings turn to the extreme to say that all the rest is nothing in front of these.
This is the thin wall that separates both.
While at sail a Captain of a steamship heard a distress call.
This is the EGO of the captain. The Ego which might’ve led to his fall.
Now look at another story
A turtle who was very talkative once overheard the plan of two hunters who schemed to catch turtles the very next day. The turtle turned to two cranes for help to elude the conspiracy of the hunters. It weaved a plan where in the cranes were to hold a long stick at their ends between their beaks.
The turtle was to close its mouth tightly in the middle of the stick so that it would be carried away to a safe distance when the birds make their flight.
The cranes agreed to the idea and asked the turtle to hold the stick firmly. The cranes took off with their flight with the turtle dangling in the middle of the stick. When the birds were up high in the air with the turtle, people from below were awe struck about the strange sight.
They exclaimed "What clever birds! A brilliant idea to carry a turtle!"
The proud turtle who could not contain himself shouted out "The idea is mine!", only to tumble from above to land on the earth.
It was the PRIDE of the turtle which caused its fall.
The more one feeds the ego, the more it grows.
Pride is more steadfast.
But……. it is evident that both need to be controlled. And the antidote is humility. When the ego and pride are dropped and the outlook embraces humility, a new light is thrown on the perception. Humility paves the way to move forward with confidence and self respect.
Life is telling us here to stop for a moment and look at it in a new perspective with humility, not to allow ego and pride to control us so that we become more successful in leading a peaceful and happy life.
Pride as such is a positive and healthy feeling if practiced in the right sense. One can be proud of his country, his nation, his parents, his off-springs, his family…………
Ego creeps in when these feelings turn to the extreme to say that all the rest is nothing in front of these.
This is the thin wall that separates both.
Look at these 2 stories that illustrate
this perception.
“Captain, Captain you must alter your course by 10 degrees, you are in danger of collision.”
The Captain replied, “I am captain of a mighty steamship sound and sturdy, I say to you, if my path endangers you, you should alter your course, I will not.”
The voice once again cried out, “Captain! Captain! You must take heed and change your course by twenty degrees; you are in danger of collision.”
The captain replied, “I am at sail and will not change. I steer a mighty and fierce steam ship.”
The voice replied, “Yes you may steer a steamship, but I am a lighthouse.”
Now look at another story
The turtle was to close its mouth tightly in the middle of the stick so that it would be carried away to a safe distance when the birds make their flight.
The cranes agreed to the idea and asked the turtle to hold the stick firmly. The cranes took off with their flight with the turtle dangling in the middle of the stick. When the birds were up high in the air with the turtle, people from below were awe struck about the strange sight.
They exclaimed "What clever birds! A brilliant idea to carry a turtle!"
The proud turtle who could not contain himself shouted out "The idea is mine!", only to tumble from above to land on the earth.
It was the PRIDE of the turtle which caused its fall.
The more one feeds the ego, the more it grows.
Pride is more steadfast.
But……. it is evident that both need to be controlled. And the antidote is humility. When the ego and pride are dropped and the outlook embraces humility, a new light is thrown on the perception. Humility paves the way to move forward with confidence and self respect.
Life is telling us here to stop for a moment and look at it in a new perspective with humility, not to allow ego and pride to control us so that we become more successful in leading a peaceful and happy life.
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