Sometimes You Need to Swallow Your Pride and Take the Job

Swallowing Your Pride

We’ve all experienced the highs of life when everything seems to be going our way, making it hard to imagine anything but smooth sailing. Then, the ground shifts—perhaps you lose your job or your health declines, and panic creeps in. With a spouse and children relying on you, not to mention bills piling up, you start to worry about how long it will be before creditors come knocking.

We’ve heard people say, “I’d never work there,” as if certain jobs—often unskilled or low-paying—are beneath them. Deep down, we know an honest day’s work is never shameful, but pride can make us think too highly of ourselves. That is, until life delivers an unexpected blow.

Sometimes, we need a lesson in humility. When we get too comfortable, life has a way of reminding us to adjust our perspective. In those moments, we must swallow our pride and do what we’ve been dreading.

Understanding Pride’s Roots

Every emotion has a root cause, and pride often stems from fear of embarrassment, which can manifest as arrogance. We might refuse a job because we worry others will judge us, or it doesn’t align with the image we’ve crafted for ourselves. Society’s emphasis on status can trick us into tying our worth to possessions or job titles, when in reality, our value lies in who we are as people.

Life humbles us all at times—it’s nature’s way of leveling the playing field. As painful as these moments are, they foster growth. There’s a fine line between confidence and arrogance. Confidence is attractive and inspiring, while pride is off-putting and isolating. So why do we cling to it? Our ego resists the “hit” of humility, but that hit is often exactly what we need to mature.

Consider someone who built a thriving business only to face a setback—perhaps a spouse demands less work, or health issues force a change. Slowing down feels like defeat, especially when money was once abundant, and now you’re worrying about the next paycheck. In these moments, you may need to take “that job”—the one you swore you’d never do—and be grateful for it.

Benefits of Letting Go of Pride

Here are key insights about swallowing your pride:

• It’s necessary for growth. Pride has no place in a healthy life—it strains work relationships, families, and marriages. True success comes from confidence in your abilities and future, not from tying your worth to fleeting things like jobs, cars, or fame. Your value lies in your character and integrity, not in what you produce or own.
• It’s a mark of maturity. Pride is selfish, focusing only on how we’re affected. Maturity means prioritizing others, like taking a less-than-ideal job to provide for your family. When money is tight, priorities become clear—pride fades, and keeping a roof over your loved ones’ heads takes precedence.
• It builds character. Humbling experiences strip away harmful attachments, helping us see ourselves clearly. They teach us to appreciate blessings instead of chasing excess, grounding us in what truly matters.
• It makes you likable. Proud people can be hard to be around, constantly boasting while others seek an escape. A humble perspective makes you more approachable, unburdened by unrealistic expectations, and open to success.
• It reduces stress. Pride creates pressure to maintain or surpass achievements. By letting go, you set your own course, guided by conscience rather than external judgments. You don’t need vast wealth at the expense of your health or family—humility allows you to say no to overburdening demands.
• It’s freeing. Releasing pride, though initially painful, lifts the weight of self-imposed expectations. What feels like shame transforms into peace, offering a sense of liberation you couldn’t have imagined.

Letting go of pride is challenging but essential for growth and thriving. Taking “that job” may sting, but the pain of change brings freedom. As bitter as the pill is to swallow, it leads to a life unencumbered by ego, allowing you to embrace your true worth. For more insights on finding balance, consider exploring how life’s challenges, like financial struggles, impact our sense of self at this resource.