17 Ways to Overcome Pride in a Relationship

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Pride can have a disastrous effect on your relationship. It is impossible to see things from your partner’s perspective if you’re prideful, which can lead to several problems in the relationship.

So, what is pride, and how can it be overcome in a relationship? Let’s try to understand and overcome it.

What is pride in a relationship?

Pride is a sense of satisfaction towards yourself. It is the belief that you are better or more important than other people. It is also a status-related self-conscious emotion.

The presence of pride in a relationship can be destructive as it makes you uncompromising. In addition, if you are prideful, your pride can destroy your relationships, and you are likely to be self-centered, which can cause a rift in your relationship.

11 signs of pride in a relationship

In relationships, pride can act as a double-edged sword. On one hand, it can fuel self-respect and mutual admiration; on the other, it can create barriers to intimacy and understanding. When pride becomes excessive, it can cloud judgment and lead to conflicts.

Understanding the role of pride in love and its potential to disrupt harmony is crucial. Here are 11 signs that indicate pride might be negatively impacting a relationship:

1. Reluctance to apologize

A strong indicator of pride in a relationship is when one partner finds it hard to say sorry. This reluctance often comes from a desire to maintain an image of strength or perfection. 

Acknowledging this behavior is the first step in understanding how pride can ruin a relationship, as it hinders the healing and growth process following disagreements.

2. Difficulty admitting mistakes

Pride makes it challenging to admit faults. This can cause persistent issues in a relationship, as it blocks the pathway to forgiveness and moving forward. Recognizing and admitting mistakes is essential for the health and longevity of any relationship.

3. Always needing to be right

The need to be right can stem from a place of wanting to maintain superiority or control, which can be incredibly damaging. It’s essential to ask oneself why pride is bad in a relationship, as this need undermines trust and respect, critical foundations of any partnership.

4. Lack of vulnerability

Vulnerability is key to deep connections. However, pride often prevents individuals from opening up about their fears and insecurities. This barrier can prevent couples from reaching a deeper understanding of each other, limiting the emotional intimacy that strengthens relationships.

5. Refusing to ask for help

Pride can lead one to believe they must handle everything on their own. This mindset not only places unnecessary strain on individuals but also robs the relationship of opportunities to grow stronger through mutual support.

6. Competitiveness with partner

While a little competition can be fun, overt competitiveness driven by pride can create a rift. It’s vital to reflect on what causes pride and how it can shift from being a motivational force to a divisive one.

7. Not listening to your partner’s opinions

Dismissing your partner’s thoughts and feelings is a sign of pride taking precedence over respect. Open communication is essential, and not valuing your partner’s input can lead to feelings of neglect and resentment.

8. Focusing solely on your needs

A self-centered behavior is a manifestation of pride. It’s crucial for partners to consider each other’s needs and desires equally to maintain a balanced and fulfilling relationship.

9. Using achievements to belittle your partner

Sometimes, one might use their successes to undermine their partner, a clear sign of pride overshadowing empathy and respect. Celebrating achievements together, rather than using them as a battleground, can nurture a supportive relationship.

10. Avoiding compromise

Refusal to compromise can stem from a desire to remain in control, a direct consequence of pride. Understanding how to be less prideful is essential to learning to value compromise and the importance of meeting halfway for the sake of the relationship.

11. Defensiveness in conversations

Constant defensiveness, especially during discussions about relationship issues, suggests pride is at play. It’s important to approach such conversations with openness and the willingness to listen and change rather than with an intent to defend one’s ego.

4 ways your pride is ruining your relationship

Is your pride ruining your relationship, and is it necessary to learn how to overcome pride in a relationship? Allowing your pride to come between you and your partner can negatively affect you as an individual and your relationship.

Therefore, it’s necessary to know why pride is terrible and how it can ruin relationships, as this can help you overcome pride in a relationship.

1. You’re never grateful

Too much pride in a relationship is unhealthy, and if you don’t keep your pride in check, it becomes easy to take your partner’s actions for granted. As a result, you become less grateful and feel entitled when your partner goes out of their way to care for you.

You put less effort into the relationship and stop caring for your partner. It’s safe to assume most people won’t want to remain in such a relationship and will likely walk out of it.

2. You never say please

Why plead when you can order? Pride puts you on a pedestal, and it can seem that everybody else is under you. If you don’t handle your pride, you will order your partner around without asking for their opinion.

Your respect for them might dwindle, and you might not find anything wrong in that. Unfortunately, this can most likely lead to the end of your relationship.

3. You will ignore your partner’s needs

A prideful person is likely to ignore the needs and feelings of others. You are likely to become self-centered, and your partner’s feelings won’t be on your radar. Your actions might even hurt them, but you won’t be bothered; they make you feel good and important.

It can lead to conflicts in the relationship, and if you don’t change, it isn’t very sure that such a relationship can survive.

4. You’re never wrong

It is impossible to be right all the time, and in some situations, there is never a wrong or right side. But as a prideful person, you’re interested in coming out on top regardless of who you hurt to get there.

You never apologize for your mistakes or admit you are wrong.  

17 ways to overcome pride in a relationship

Pride can be both a shield and a barrier in relationships, protecting one’s ego while simultaneously obstructing genuine intimacy and understanding.

In order to create a deeper connection and deal with the challenges pride brings, it’s essential to recognize and actively work on overcoming pride in a relationship. Here are 17 actionable steps to help you reduce pride and cultivate a more loving, respectful partnership:

1. Listen to understand

It is impossible to know it all. You mustn’t argue or reply to every statement. Learn to listen to what your partner has to say and understand their point of view. 

Dionne Eleanor, a relationship and empowerment mentor, recommends:

People seek to speak last and try to mirror back the words of the other person to ensure they have listened accurately.

It is also essential to not interrupt your partner when they speak and assume your views are superior. When you listen to your partner, you put your pride aside, intending to learn.

2. Know your limit

Accept you are not all-knowing and perfect. This is a crucial way to overcome pride. Ignoring your pride or denying it won’t get you closer to overcoming it.

Experienced transformational coach Dionne Eleanor states:

It is very easy to become unaware of ourselves and our behaviors. It is good for people to develop a daily meditation practice where they can reflect on opportunities where they could have had or could have more humility.

It would help if you first learned to accept it. Then, admit your shortcomings, first to yourself, then to your partner.

3. Be accountable

To overcome pride in a relationship, you must be held accountable for your actions. Don’t blame others for your mistake or fail to admit you are wrong. 

When you take responsibility for your actions, you push your pride aside and give yourself the chance to grow. Your eyes will also be open to the impact of your actions on the relationship.

4. Don’t shy away from criticism

You can either let criticism bring you down or motivate you to be a better version of yourself. Accepting criticism doesn’t mean people have the right to throw insults in your direction. 

Listen to what your partner has to say regarding your actions. Open your mind to the possibility that your behavior might have been hurtful. 

5. Remember your feelings

Pride doesn’t mean you are heartless or incapable of feeling emotions. Recalling your strong feelings for your partner will inspire you to do whatever is necessary to save the relationship.

It might also promote intimacy and vulnerability in the relationship. Pride can’t survive in such a relationship.

6. Express your feelings

When you are prideful, expressing yourself might be challenging. You often hold your tongue during a conversation and keep your opinions in.

You might feel like you are too big to have such a conversation. But for your sanity, your opinion needs to be heard.

7. Apologize

Overcoming pride begins with apologizing when you are at fault. You aren’t too big to apologize when you are wrong. Let your partner know you’re sorry for your actions and that they deserve an apology.

Failing to apologize because of your ego might make your partner believe you don’t care. So, do you want to know how to overcome pride? Apologize.  

8. Consider the result

Is your ego worth losing your relationship over? Knowing the consequences of your actions will encourage you to keep your pride aside in the relationship.

It is necessary to examine the bigger picture, not just the present. The thought of losing your significant other because of something minor, like failing to apologize, might push you to overcome the pride.

Dionne Eleanor further explains:

Relationships are central to our health, and we should be mindful of becoming a person who fools ourselves into thinking they can do everything alone – it’s just not true.

9. Don’t take yourself too seriously

Pride develops as a result of fear of embarrassment or shame. Therefore, it is easy to become defensive and regard every criticism as an insult.

If you want to overcome pride, don’t take yourself too seriously and understand you aren’t above mistakes. As a result, your ego is no longer sensitive, and you can set your pride aside.

10. Stop competing

Do you want to know how to overcome pride in a relationship? Then don’t compete with your partner. There is no winner in relationships. 

You either win or lose together. So, there isn’t a need to compete with your significant other. Your competitive nature will most likely hurt your partner and cost you the relationship.

11. Compromise

Compromise can help you overcome pride. It takes time, but you can compromise with your partner and reach an amicable agreement on little things. 

Your way is not the only right way. Value your partner’s opinion in the relationship, which will help you overcome your pride.

12. Encourage your partner

Are you curious about how to deal with pride in a relationship? Then, don’t downplay your partner’s achievements. 

On the contrary, you encourage and support someone if you love them. Your self-worth isn’t attached to your achievements and can’t be affected by your partner’s progress.

13. Don’t be too defensive

When you’re proud, the usual reaction to a slight accusation or correction is to bring your guard up.

You are afraid to lose your status, so you are always on guard to defend against anything, even a correction given with love. This can affect communication in the relationship.

14. Be mindful

Mindfulness is the ability to be present in the moment and aware of your actions. 

Take a deep breath and be mindful of your thoughts at specific points throughout the day. Shut down thoughts of pride and prideful actions.

15. Ask for help

Don’t assume you know what is best for your partner or your relationship. When you are having difficulty making a decision, ask your partner for help.

Please don’t attempt to do it all or pretend you don’t need help. Instead, put your pride aside because everyone needs a helping hand once in a while.

16. Celebrate each other’s successes

Embracing and celebrating your partner’s successes as if they were your own can be a powerful way to overcome pride in a relationship. It’s easy to feel threatened by your partner’s achievements if you’re viewing the relationship through a lens of competition or self-importance. 

However, by genuinely celebrating their victories, you acknowledge the strength and value of your partnership over individual accolades. This attitude can encourage a sense of mutual respect and admiration, helping to diminish the barriers erected by pride.

Watch this video to learn more about how you can be a supportive partner as Michelle Farris, a licensed psychotherapist, guides you through:

17. Reflect on the origins of your pride

Understanding the root causes of your pride can be an enlightening way to address it effectively. Take time to reflect on what triggers your prideful responses in the relationship. Are they based on past experiences, insecurities, or perhaps a fear of vulnerability?

By identifying the origins of your pride, you can work on healing these underlying issues rather than merely managing the symptoms. This introspection can lead to profound personal growth and improve your capacity for empathy and connection with your partner.

FAQs

Pride, like many emotions, has a complex role in relationships and personal interactions. It can serve as both a source of self-respect and a barrier to deeper connection. Here are some frequently asked questions that shed light on the nuances of pride within relationships:

• Is pride in a relationship good or bad?

Pride in a relationship can be both positive and negative. Healthy pride can promote self-esteem and mutual respect. However, excessive pride can lead to conflict, making it challenging to resolve disagreements and grow closer.

• Is pride good in love?

In love, a balanced sense of pride can enhance the relationship by promoting mutual admiration and respect. Yet, when pride becomes overbearing, it might hinder open communication and vulnerability, essential components of a loving relationship.

• Can pride end a relationship?

Yes, unchecked pride can end a relationship by creating persistent misunderstandings, resentment, and disconnection. Recognizing and addressing pride is crucial to prevent it from overshadowing love and respect.

• Is pride the same as ego?

Pride and ego often overlap but aren’t identical. Pride can be a positive feeling of self-worth or achievement. In contrast, ego involves a broader sense of identity and self-importance that can more extensively affect behavior and interactions.

Takeaway

Pride is a primary emotion that everybody feels once in a while. However, it is necessary to overcome this emotion and not bring it into your relationship.

According to Dionne Eleanor:

Our imperfections make us human, and relationships are about embracing this. When someone in a relationship has a lot of pride – it can reduce the opportunity for intimacy.

The question of overcoming pride in a relationship has been answered above. Implement the tips above to have a healthy and pride-free relationship.