Have you noticed wherever you go, whatever you do there is a part of you, that no matter how hard you try to hide, seems to make an appearance? It’s like she just follows you around so she can show up uninvited. Her name is Pride, how does she show up on your social media?

Pride she shows up through my insecurities.

Over the years on social media, I have not edited my photos, but am very selective of the pictures I post. I still am. I want others to see me as flattering, not flawed. This is how pride makes an appearance in my life. For some reason I think my outward appearance masks my messy self, but what I fail to see is my friends see right through me. There was and is no hiding of the real me.

Recently, I had a head shot taken, the touched up picture is on the right, and the real me is on the left. The edited picture I use as my profile pic on Facebook and on the grow-together.blog. It is strongly recommended to use a professional headshot when creating a website. We live in a culture which thrives on beauty and somehow beauty equates to trust. People gravitate towards what appeals to their eye. It’s all smoke and mirrors.

The last several weeks I posted pictures of me with a group of friends, a photo of me with my daughters and a swimsuit shot. Each photo shot at a distance and not altered. These pictures are shared through motivation. The pictures complemented my blog series on holistic aging. The point being that the practices I have put into place for my recovery are working.

I am not being boastful, but I am proud of my efforts. I do believe that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and radiates. Still I continue to find satisfaction of seeing a flattering photo of myself. I am a work in progress. My confidence is growing by accepting my imperfections and strengthening my faith, that is how my pride should show up!

Pride she shows up in my parenting.

     Why do I write? Simply because I can't talk. Why do I post? So I can hide behind my words, not be seen.

     My older daughter can write and speak. She is a marketer and communicator. She is very comfortable in her skin.

     I trip over my own words as they escape my mouth. And it's not very graceful!

     My younger daughter studies communication disorders so maybe she can explain in her brainy words my problem. She is giving back to children born like her and I.

     Both of my daughters are excelling with their God-given gifts, which makes me boastful.

Do you notice that mom, the one who is constantly posting pictures of their children’s achievements? Well… that’s not me, not to say I don’t post to celebrate my children, that I do. Okay… so maybe I am kidding myself, I do get satisfaction out of bragging on Facebook.

Somehow I think that my daughters’ accomplishments have anything to do with myself or my parenting. This comes from my own insecurities developed from my youth. Most of us are stuck in our past, but refuse to investigate to learn from our past. I am learning to accept my past and grow from it.

Today when I share a celebration I need to remind myself that it isn’t about me. Instead I need to thank God for His blessings, that is how my should pride show up!

Pride she shows up in my blogging.

A conversation with pride.

The Self-Seeker:
     "My life has gone to hell in a handbasket." Insert perfect   
     picture... "But look at me!" Not bad huh?
The People-Pleaser:
     "Oh poor dear," yawn... "But don't you look lovely." 
     
The People-Pleaser:
     "Hey have you seen what I've been doing with my social media? 
     I'm on a mission to save the world." 
The Self-Seeker:
     Pass, next post.    

Pride hasn’t made my blogging journey easy. Pride is self-worship and self-preservation at all costs. Pride shows up in our character defects of people-pleasing and self-seeking. I never considered these traits before, but now they read right through my sharing.

I found a passion and a purpose to share. Not everyone is as enthusiastic about my writing as myself. When I come out with my guns blazing and do not receive the attention I desire my pride is hurt. Now this is my real problem!

Celebrating Others: I heart your post.

The People-Pleaser

To build momentum on Facebook it is important to engage with others. I haven’t been very engaging this past year. When I show up I am half hearted, so maybe my friends aren’t feeling my love. I know I need to work harder in order to grow, but am resistant. My passion is to write, not to post.

I am pleased when a friend sends me a message, signs up to receive my blog, or refers to my message in their post. I am not in it to please you, but help you. This is what I want others to know about me.

As a Christian woman how should pride show up?

The purpose behind my writing and sharing to social media is three-part: strengthening my relationship with God, personal growth & healing, and to invite others on my journey. My intentions are good, but pride has a way of disrupting my growth. Pride hasn’t been all that bad. It has helped me persevere. A couple practices to keep in mind while I continue to share are: checking the motivation behind my message that it is not self-seeking or people-pleasing and to be aware so I can surrender my prideful ways to God.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Philippians 2:3 ESV

I am a work in progress and it takes daily effort. Pride for me is about authenticity, being true to myself and others. What I need to keep in mind is maybe pride isn’t my only problem. Be authentic, be proud, just beware of envy!

• Alcohol (24)
  • Drunk On Words (5)
• Call To Action (1)
• Character Defects (16)
• Identity (10)
• Jesus Christ (15)
• Life Skills (11)
• Marriage (13)
• Motherhood (4)
• Personal Growth (22)
  • Fear (3)
• Personal Relations (17)
• Recovery (19)
• Shame (3)
• Uncategorized (6)
• When Life Happens (3)
• Writing (9)