I think that, as a society, we rationalize pride in a hideously malformed way. We, and I’m speaking mostly for myself, and a view I am working desperately to divorce myself from, believe that, even if we are not prideful, we are aspiring towards a position where we might be. If I could just behave in all of the ways I wish I did, working harder, being smarter, more charming, more efficient, then I’d have something to be proud of. 

The fact is that of course, we would not. 

One monk was talking to another monk about how they struggle with pride, the second monk responds “Well, you should be proud, you created Heaven and Earth, afterall.” It cured him of his pride immediately. 

Even if we had something earnestly worth of pride, that in and of itself would cure us of that feeling. The being most worthy of pride spent his last day on earth washing feet. 

Realizing that pride is a false horizon of self-agrandized bullshit is helpful, I think.