Help with Spiritual Pride?

[waanju]

I need help.
I’ve been more aware of my faith recently (partly because I just started school at a secular college and, for the first time in my life, the majority of my peers are staunch atheists). It’s been difficult, but I’ve learned a lot and feel like it’s brought me closer to God.
Recently,though, I’ve realized that I’ve always struggled with spiritual pride. When I’ve been praying/reading the bible/fasting or basically ANYTHING related to faith, I start to feel like I’m “better” than my classmates. It used to be that when I answered religious questions for friends, I was sharing from the joy of my heart, but now, I catch myself thinking that everyone else must be ignorant and just not as good as me. I’ve started looking down at others, even at MASS! For example, I catch myself thinking badly of girls in miniskirts or tubetops… or even dressed modestly but “not as modestly as ME”. I feel like I’ve been this way since I was little, predisposed even then to pride by making up stories to make myself seem interesting, bragging, trying to get people to like me best of anyone, and secretly considering myself “better” smarter, or more attractive than others.
I really hate this attitude that’s all about me me me. I know that it’s the exact OPPOSITE of what we’re called to do. I really really want to be humble. I try to pray about it, but then I think “oh it’s great that I’m so awesome and humble. I’m such a good person for trying to be humble” ect. I feel so FAKE.
Please help!!! What can I do? s there any hope for me to change? (Looking back, I see I’ve been like this since at least 1st or 2nd grade)

 

[Ion]

Well, you can start with the catholic encyclopedia-about sins, vice, particularly about pride;Then take your time and meditate about it; “better than other” has a very broad meaning, and sometimes it is not a sin. “To be humble” I see it like a respectful attitude toward any other person.

 

[williamdrew]

There is a good book called “Time for God” where they discuss St. Teresa of Avila and her struggles in her faith life.
“I am full of faults, I’m not making any progress, I’m incapable of being really converted and loving God seriously. Presenting myself before him in such a state is just hypocrisy----I’m pretending to be a saint, when I am worth no more than people who don’t pray at all. It would be much more honest in God’s eyes if I just dropped it completely!”

This may not be your particular situation but what we can do is to persist in prayer, trudge through these things that seem like our giant faults because God is revealing something beautiful to you.

 

[Ohana]

You have made a real start with this insight. I do not think you are alone in this. Hmm, seems to hit me on occasion too! For me, it is helpful to remember that everything I am or have came from God, It is really His, so I cannot rightfully take pride in “it” (whatever it is). I am not sure where it comes from, (maybe St Thomas Aquinas or St. Augustine) but the prayer, “not me, but You through me”, is helpful to me at such times. It shifts the focus off me and onto God.

God has blessed you with this awareness. Just stay with it and see where He leads you. I think one definiton of true humility is to see ourselves accurately. So you have taken a step!

 

[Dorothy]

In my own experience,…when I begin to think that I am better than others, then I need to focus on the fact that I am so blessed to have the gift of faith, and begin to thank the Lord for the many opportunities in my life to appreciate that gift of faith, and the awareness of blessings given as well.

All the good in me comes from Him! I am at peace when I acknowledge that. I can do nothing without Him.

 

[JRKH]

You have made a real start with this insight. I do not think you are alone in this. Hmm, seems to hit me on occasion too! For me, it is helpful to remember that everything I am or have came from God, It is really His, so I cannot rightfully take pride in “it” (whatever it is). I am not sure where it comes from, (maybe St Thomas Aquinas or St. Augustine) but the prayer, “not me, but You through me”, is helpful to me at such times. It shifts the focus off me and onto God.

God has blessed you with this awareness. Just stay with it and see where He leads you. I think one definiton of true humility is to see ourselves accurately. So you have taken a step!

Excellent answer…

Peace
James

 

[JRKH]

…

 I really hate this attitude that's all about me me me. I know that it's the exact OPPOSITE of what we're called to do. I really really want to be humble. I try to pray about it, but then I think "oh it's great that I'm so awesome and humble. I'm such a good person for trying to be humble" ect. I feel so FAKE.

Please help!!! What can I do? s there any hope for me to change? (Looking back, I see I’ve been like this since at least 1st or 2nd grade)

Dear One,
You are so blessed that the spirit has called this to your attention. Blessed be God.
It means that He wishes you to move closer to Him and to recognize, more fully, how much you rely on Him.
But - even in this it is important to be careful…You are NOT a fake. Nope - - - Not at all.

The thing to remember is that this is a journey…We learn, we grow, we occasionally make wrong turns or get sidetracked…sometimes we get worn out and have to sit and rest for a bit…But it’s all part of the journey…

In this case, you’ve discovered something very important. It will take time to sort out and overcome. In fact it may never be fully overcome because of the subtleties of the thing.

I believe that the best suggestion we can give you right now would be to talk this over with a good confessor.

Also - keep praying on the matter…Thank God for opening your eyes to this dangerous error and ask his guidance to subdue it. I also advise you to learn to laugh about it…Laugh at yourself when you catch yourself improperly judging or feeling “puffed up”…Not only will it keep you from despair, but the little demons who feed on these kinds of things hate being laughed at…

May God continue to bless you on your journey.

Peace
James

 

[Swiss_Guy]

I need help.
I’ve been more aware of my faith recently (partly because I just started school at a secular college and, for the first time in my life, the majority of my peers are staunch atheists). It’s been difficult, but I’ve learned a lot and feel like it’s brought me closer to God.
Recently,though, I’ve realized that I’ve always struggled with spiritual pride. When I’ve been praying/reading the bible/fasting or basically ANYTHING related to faith, I start to feel like I’m “better” than my classmates. It used to be that when I answered religious questions for friends, I was sharing from the joy of my heart, but now, I catch myself thinking that everyone else must be ignorant and just not as good as me. I’ve started looking down at others, even at MASS! For example, I catch myself thinking badly of girls in miniskirts or tubetops… or even dressed modestly but “not as modestly as ME”. I feel like I’ve been this way since I was little, predisposed even then to pride by making up stories to make myself seem interesting, bragging, trying to get people to like me best of anyone, and secretly considering myself “better” smarter, or more attractive than others.
I really hate this attitude that’s all about me me me. I know that it’s the exact OPPOSITE of what we’re called to do. I really really want to be humble. I try to pray about it, but then I think “oh it’s great that I’m so awesome and humble. I’m such a good person for trying to be humble” ect. I feel so FAKE.
Please help!!! What can I do? s there any hope for me to change? (Looking back, I see I’ve been like this since at least 1st or 2nd grade)

I think we all have that problem. I would advise to read the Gospels and follow the example of Christ. Go to Mass frequently. Think about how Christ suffered death on the Cross and how he was spiritually “better” than everyone else yet humbled himself.