We've all heard the phrase, "If you don't praise yourself, no one else will." It seems this has quietly become the mantra of our times. Everywhere you look, people boast of their successes, victories, and earned millions. It has become prestigious to be, as the English say, a "self-made man" – someone who has achieved everything independently. These sentiments are practically in the air, and I find myself thinking, "What a great job I'm doing, how smart and beautiful I am, how much I've achieved, and how many victories lie ahead."

But hold on, my dear... Did you really achieve all this on your own? Should you be praising your reflection in the mirror, or someone else?

Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk answered my questions, leaving no room for doubt. He wrote, "Everything we have is not ours, but God's; we are only vessels and storehouses of God's gifts. All praise, honor, and gratitude belong to God the giver, and man should humble himself, lest what he has be taken away due to pride."

Today, pride and self-love are sometimes regarded almost as virtues and signs of a noble nature. But, of course, these opinions are mistaken and bring nothing but destruction to our souls. Self-confidence often turns into pride and vanity, which are considered among the most dangerous passions. The elders of Optina Monastery spoke and wrote extensively about the struggle against them. Saint Leo of Optina sorrowfully called vanity "the poison that kills the fruits of even the ripest virtues."

But how do we fight this? How do we ensure that confidence in our abilities and the desire to apply our talents do not turn into arrogance and vanity? It is crucial to always remember that it is the Lord who endowed us with talents and gave us the opportunity to realize them, and it is He who should be thanked first for our successes, victories, and well-being. Everything earthly is fragile: beauty, health, and wealth can disappear in an instant. And then, self-praise or not, everything remains in God's hands. It is also important to thank the people who, in one way or another, help us on our life journey and whom the Lord sends to us – parents, teachers, friends, colleagues. We do not live in a vacuum, so our victories are often not just our own but also shared with others. Let's not postpone gratitude for a special day and time; let's try to speak kind words to our loved ones right away. And, of course, we should always thank the Lord for everything that happens in our lives.

In our age of self-promotion and the glorification of individual achievement, it is essential to remember humility and gratitude. True fulfillment and peace come not from boasting of our accomplishments but from acknowledging the source of our gifts and sharing our gratitude with those around us. Only then can we avoid the pitfalls of pride and vanity and live a life enriched by genuine thankfulness and humility.

Original article: radiovera.ru/sam-sebja-ne-pohvalish-irina-sobylenskaja.html