Moving Men Forward
On Pride and Humility

If pride is one of our chief downfalls as men, and is the root of many poor and destructive decisions and behaviors, it seems then, if pride can be identified and uprooted, we will show up as completely different men. Right?

But, how do you root out pride? How do you humble yourself? Is it possible to do this on our own without external circumstances or forces?

For clarification, the pride I am referring to here is, from the Greek, “hubris”. Hubris is often considered an excessive and detrimental form of pride, and is characterized by “excessive self-confidence, arrogance, and a disregard for others, often leading to negative consequences”.

This pride is self-sufficient and self-destructive. It connects our identity and value to what we have done and keeps us from seeing our motives clearly.

In contrast, it has been said that “Humility is not thinking less of ourselves, but thinking of ourselves less”.
Humility is not self degrading or insecure.

Humility is risky. It might ask us to give up a self-focused lens (what others think of us, what we have, our own authority and intuition, etc) for a greater good.

So, how does a man humble himself?
Can he, in his own strength or will….

Turn (away from pride/ego and selfishness)
Recognize (his own limitations, weakness, and blind spots, and where/how his own ambitions, desires, and intentions are self-focused)
Acknowledge (he is not in control)
Seek (truth)
Allow (others to speak into his life)
Receive (instruction, counsel, and guidance)
Express (heart) gratitude for what he has and that it has been given, not earned
Trust (not solely in himself but something better and greater)
Give (away his worries, anxieties, and need for control)
Act (humbly)

To identify and root out pride, some men believe we should….

1. Recognize and Reflect
Pride often hides in unnoticed patterns—thinking you’re always right, needing validation, or looking down on others.
Honest self-reflection, feedback from trusted people, and life experience can mellow the ego and reveal blind spots.

2. Practice Conscious Humility
Intentionally put others first, but don’t become a doormat. Balance strength with humility.
Let your actions speak louder than your words. Be proud inwardly, but resist seeking outward attention.

3. Speak and Listen with Awareness
Align your words with a humble heart. Listen more, speak less.
Cultivate self-awareness in conversation and seek grace to speak with humility.

4. Stay Rooted in Faith
Scripture and prayer are foundational in humbling the heart.
Verses like Philippians 2:3, James 4:6, and John 15:5 remind us of Christ’s example and our dependence on God.
Prayer is a daily act of humility — a surrender of control and ego.

5. Surround Ourselves with the Right People
Humble community shapes a humble heart.
External circumstances and relationships often accelerate personal growth.

Men, can we do this work alone?

While personal decisions and self-reflection are essential, many men agree that true humility is deepened through faith, feedback, and life experience — not isolation.

Personally, I believe that for some men, myself foremost, it can take (or took) a massive wake-up call, fall, or hard experience to open eyes to pride. It can take hitting the floor and knees, in dependence and surrender, to begin the lifetime journey of ripping pride out of our hearts.

For me personally, it has and is taking more than myself to get towards the roots of pride in my heart. It has taken a compassionate Father who knows my needs and loves me greatly. I have found, as in James 4:6-8, that “He gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you.”

Thoughts or questions?

Alex Gerber
Moving Men Forward
Gerberxc@gmail.com