10 Ways Pride Hurts Relationships & 10 Gifts of Humility in Love

Having pride in yourself is normal, but it’s not an excellent quality to maintain in relationships. If anything, it does more harm than good. Learn how to spot the 10 prideful habits in a relationship and stop them by using these 10 gifts of humility to keep your love burning.

1. Refusing to apologize

Timur Weber on Pexels

The most prominent symptom of pride is being unable to apologize. You or your partner may refuse to take accountability and often shift the blame onto someone else. This toxic trait can create more conflict in a relationship that may burn you out in the long run.

2. Being too critical

Alex Green on Pexels

Pride can make you criticize someone’s behavior, even if it’s your partner. This can weaken relationships as you might offend your partner or target their insecurities, making them feel worse. Remember that nobody is perfect, so let’s set our pride aside and avoid being too critical.

3. Unhealthy competition

Keira Burton on Pexels

When dating, it’s normal to have healthy competition with each other. This means you inspire each other instead of feeling jealous or trying to drag each other down to be above them. Unhealthy competition is a reflection of pride that will sabotage your relationship.

4. Showing signs of disrespect

RDNE Stock project on Pexels

Pride can cause you to forget your partner’s boundaries and become disrespectful toward them. This means you’ll make rude remarks, refuse to cooperate, make hurtful jokes that can mock your partner’s confidence, and more. This pride can ruin people’s self-worth if they’re on the receiving end.

5. Being superficial

Ketut Subiyanto on Pexels

Pride causes you to prioritize superficial things, such as worrying too much about what others say about your partner or relationship. You might let other people’s opinions dictate how you act in your love life, and this could make you lose your partner’s affection. To simplify, pride will make you into a completely different person and make your partner feel like a stranger.

6. Dishonesty

Alex Green on Pexels

When someone is too prideful, they may lie about things just to save their face. This could vary from small white lies to huge, harmful lies that can end a relationship. Not only does this reflect their insecurities, but it also shows their lack of trust in their partner.

7. Bossing your partner around

RDNE Stock project on Pexels

A prideful person is often afraid of looking weak or vulnerable. This means they refuse to ask for help politely and instead command you as if they’re your boss who can order you around. In a relationship, this promotes a toxic nature between you and your partner, which can hurt both of you deeply.

8. Holding grudges

Alex Green on Pexels

Pride makes it harder for someone to forgive with their whole heart, so they’ll end up holding grudges. Those grudges will act like a poison that can sabotage your relationship in the long run. Their pride prevents them from moving on and healing, causing them to be stuck in the past instead of growing and becoming a better person with you.

9. Being too stubborn

Keira Burton on Pexels

Stubbornness is a classic symptom of pride. It prevents someone from changing for the better and may encourage them to keep bad habits that could hurt your relationship. They may also refuse to listen and believe they’re always right, which can burn out the person they’re dating.

10. Taking your relationship for granted

RDNE Stock project on Pexels

A prideful partner may expect you to keep doing things for them no matter what happens. They’ll act like royalty who you’re meant to serve instead of acting like a loving partner who appreciates your relationship. This also means they fail to appreciate the little things and can’t even say “thank you” for what you do for them.

Contrary to a relationship sabotaged by pride, the gifts of humility in love also exist. These are the 10 remedies to a prideful relationship, so read on to find out what they are.

1. Respecting your partner’s boundaries

Ba Tik on Pexels

To show humility and counter pride, one of the first things to do is respect each other’s boundaries. If you’re not aware of them, then it’s a sign to discuss this topic with your partner so you can set proper boundaries in your relationship. Doing so will make your relationship last longer.

2. Knowing how to apologize

anait film on Pexels

Proper apology and accountability are vital signs of humility that build trust. By making your partner feel safe and comfortable, you’re also showing that you’re willing to listen or change for the sake of your relationship. 

3. No unhealthy competition

Maksim Goncharenok on Pexels

A humble partner knows how to uplift both of you. This means you’ll encourage and inspire each other to grow and become better people. This quality will make your relationship last long because there will be no criticisms, hidden jealousy, triggered insecurities, etc.

4. Being supportive

Airam Dato-on on Pexels

A partner who supports you instead of putting you down has multiple positive benefits. They can help boost your confidence, improve your self-esteem, and motivate you to become better. Unlike prideful partners who might mock you to make themselves feel better than you.

5. Appreciating the little things

Vihok Chugiart on Pexels

When humility is present in your relationship, you’ll both know how to appreciate the little things. That’s because you don’t prioritize superficial qualities, unlike relationships full of pride. This invites more happiness as a couple because you would feel adequately appreciated.

6. Being truthful to each other

Adilet Lozunov on Pexels

Pride can hinder honesty, but if you replace that trait with humility, being truthful becomes easier. This is a gift in love that any couple should keep to ensure there won’t be any lies or doubts in their relationship. Without keeping secrets from each other, your trust can grow deeper than ever.

7. Showing proper gratitude

cottonbro studio on Pexels

Without pride, couples can show gratitude to each other without feeling forced. This means they can easily say “thank you” and praise you for the things you do in your relationship. It makes your partner feel you are paying attention and noticing their efforts, strengthening your love.

8. Being open-minded to change

Juan Pablo Serrano on Pexels

With humility in your relationship, both of you will be open to change. It means there’s no pride holding you back from becoming a better person because you both accept your flaws without question. This leads your relationship down to a healthier path.

9. Willingness to forgive

August de Richelieu on Pexels

Humility prevents you from holding grudges. This allows couples to forgive each other wholeheartedly and move forward without looking back. You’ll take mistakes and past experiences as a chance to grow as a couple instead of taking things personally to the point that you’ll be resentful. 

10. Having healthy communication

ShotPot on Pexels

Pride can gag anyone by the mouth, pushing them into silence even if it hurts their relationship. But if you have the gift of humility in your love life, you’ll be comfortable communicating safely. This means you can sit down and discuss things calmly without causing hurtful arguments.

• Tags:
• Relationships
• Pride
• Humility
• love
• Dating