7 Causes of Pride: How to be More Humble!

Pride is often rooted in deep insecurity, shame, fear, feelings of unworthiness, and self-reliance. Many struggling with pride feel rejected, unloved, or caught between self-hatred and victimhood. For some, pride becomes a mask—projecting confidence while hiding pain. For others, it’s an ignorant belief that they know better than others—even better than God.

Usually, pride begins as a blind spot. It quietly shapes how we think, relate to others, and approach God. The more we rely on it, the harder it becomes to ask for help or receive—because pride convinces us we don’t need anything, or that needing something makes us weak or unsafe.

Pride isn’t always loud, rebellious, or boastful. It can be subtle and disguised—showing up as people-pleasing, self-righteousness, defensiveness, blame-shifting, perfectionism, or a deep need to control outcomes. It can appear as independence that resists help, or self-sufficiency that avoids surrender. Sometimes, it shows up as self-focus or selfishness, prioritizing personal gain, comfort, or image over truth, love, and God’s will.

Ultimately, pride can quietly damage our relationships, hinder our growth, and distance us from God—often without us realizing it. According to Insight Into the Scriptures, pride is an unreasonable sense of superiority in one’s talents, beauty, wealth, or status. This kind of pride can lead to self-reliance that excludes God, a tendency to look down on others, a sense of entitlement based on personal achievements, and behavior marked by arrogance or disdain.

If You Struggle With Pride…

If you recognize pride in yourself, don’t be ashamed. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad person—it likely means you’ve been seeing the world through your own limited perspective (Isaiah 55:8-9), you’re unsure of how to trust God, and you’re trying to protect a part of yourself that feels unsafe. With practical steps and the power of God, you can break free.

Read More: 7 Steps to Overcome Pride

30 Signs of Pride

Many people don’t realize they struggle with pride — they just know they feel isolated, defensive, or misunderstood. Do any of these feel familiar?

• I worry that people will notice my flaws and judge me for them.
• I sometimes twist situations to make others seem at fault (blame-shifting).
• I avoid feeling guilt or shame at all costs.
• I believe people will regret it if they don’t take my advice.
• When I disagree with someone, I tend to assume they’re being emotional or irrational.
• I pretend I’m fine even when I’m struggling inside.
• I assume I’d be the first to notice if something was wrong with me.
• I find it hard to trust or listen to authority figures or leaders.
• I do things to make sure others think highly of me (people-pleasing)
• I get jealous when someone seems better than me.
• I feel like if I don’t fix something, no one else will.
• I often point out others’ flaws or mistakes.
• I believe I deserve more because I work hard and do the “right” things (entitlement).

Take the full quiz to explore all 30 signs:Am I struggling with pride?

7 Root Causes of Pride

If you grow in these seven areas it will help you to overcome pride and be more humble.

#1 Fear of Vulnerability.

Vulnerability means opening up the fragile core of who we are. It’s the part we often want to hide because opening it up feels like risking judgment, rejection, or deep pain. To protect ourselves, we put on masks like success, control, humor, intelligence, or even spiritual language—using these to appear strong and keep others from seeing our true, vulnerable selves.

When our vulnerable spots feel threatened, we may fight back through power struggles, putting others down, or keeping them at a distance. Pride becomes a shield hiding our fears, fragile core, and deep need for love. It often fuels self-reliance because we don’t trust anyone—including God—to protect us.

But this fear doesn’t just block pain; it also blocks love, healing, help, and connection. It keeps us distant from others and from God. When all exposure feels risky, we don’t know who’s safe, so we shut down—even when God wants to reach us.

Related Article: 26 Examples of Pride in the Bible

#2 Lack of Safety

Have you ever been in a place where who you truly are is met with judgment, criticism, or rejection? Where instead of encouragement, you face constant put-downs or misunderstanding? Sometimes pride isn’t rooted in fear—but in survival. When we’ve been deeply hurt or judged, pride becomes a defense mechanism. It shows up when our hearts haven’t been properly protected or given space to heal.

In these unsafe environments, we begin to harden. We stay on guard—ready for battle, even when no one is fighting us. Over time, this self-protection can turn into pride: a refusal to let others in or risk being hurt again.

That’s why it’s so important to guard your heart—not by shutting everyone out, but by choosing to surround yourself with safe, trustworthy people. Only then can your heart begin to heal and your defenses slowly come down. “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” — Proverbs 4:23

#3 Low self-esteem.

Low self-esteem is at the heart of much pride and arrogance. It’s rooted in feelings of shame, guilt, and not being good enough—emotions we try to cover up. To mask these, we put on a confident front to convince others—and ourselves—that we’re okay. But underneath, self-doubt and insecurity remain.

You can have success, status, or possessions, but if low self-esteem isn’t healed, you’ll always need more to feel confident or to be seen the way you want. This struggle to be seen as strong or perfect makes it hard to admit mistakes, accept help, or say sorry. You might blame others, boast,  struggle with vanity, or try to control situations just to feel worthy. You may stay stuck in unhealthy patterns because you believe you alone must fix things.

Remember, your worth isn’t measured by achievements or others’ opinions. True confidence and humility come from embracing who you are in God’s eyes—not from pretending to be flawless.

Related Article: 12 Characteristics Of A Prideful Heart

#4 Overfunctioning and control.

Trying to fix everything on my own was often rooted in pride. I used to believe subconsciously, I had this almost God-like ability to heal broken people with my love and effort—but love alone isn’t enough if someone doesn’t love themselves enough to begin their own healing journey. I brought that same mindset into work, convinced I was the only one who could fix things. I ignored toxic systems, mistreatments, and silently judged those who couldn’t handle it the way I thought I could.

Later, I realized my strength and drive wasn’t just noble—it came from pride, people-pleasing, and a need to feel in control. It gave me a false sense of purpose but left me drained and anxious. Sadly, my body showed signs of that anxiety—in stress, illness, fear, and more—long before I even connected the dots.

Pride will have you overfunctioning in unhealthy places because it convinces you that you can and should handle it all. It blurs the line between strength and burnout—making it hard to recognize when something is simply too much. Pride overshadows your pain and masks your limits. You weren’t meant to carry it all. Reflect on where you’re trying to be the savior. Ask for help. Let God, and others, in.

Related Article: How to Deal With a Prideful Man or Prideful Woman

#5 Fear of powerlessness.

Pride can stop us from asking for or accepting help because deep down, we fear feeling powerless, exposed, or out of control. We may believe that needing others makes us weak or less capable. But the truth is, we were never meant to do life alone.

Allowing yourself to be vulnerable and open to help doesn’t make you powerless—it makes you human. Trusted people like therapists, mentors, pastors, or even financial advisors can offer support in areas where you’re struggling. And one day, the healing you receive will empower you to support others in return.

Pride can show up as false humility—like avoiding attention, downplaying your strengths, or deflecting compliments—not because you’re truly humble, but because you’re afraid of being seen as prideful. This fear often stems from a deep sense of powerlessness and a need to stay in control by avoiding judgment. By shrinking back, you try to protect yourself from feeling exposed or weak. But true humility isn’t about hiding; it’s about feeling secure enough to be seen, to grow, and to receive support despite your imperfections.

Related Article: 26 Examples of Pride in the Bible

#6 Impossible standards of perfection.

Others might see you as flawless—successful, powerful, confident, godly, intelligent, or deeply masculine/feminine. But under the surface, you may still wrestle with insecurity, shame, or fear of not being enough. Holding up the image of perfection becomes a silent burden, one that isolates you from genuine connection.

When that deep insecurity goes unhealed, it can quietly turn into judgment. You might highlight others’ flaws to draw attention away from your own or feel a momentary boost by convincing yourself you’re doing better than someone else. It can feel like you’re winning—like you’re on top. But over time, this pattern pushes people away. They may feel small, unseen, or judged in your presence.

Any situation that requires you to be perfect at all times is dysfunctional.

Racism, sexism, nationalism, xenophobia, classism, anti-Semitism, the education system, and every other system that divides people into categories and determines their self-worth are consequences of pride. If you notice, these systems tend to portray one group as more perfect, pure, and righteous. These are man-made systems implemented for people to feel good about themselves. The human mind only wants to rank people within levels because it makes one group feel more powerful than the others.

Pride has been stirring up chaos in the Church since the beginning of time. Some Baptists feel they’re more biblically sound than Charismatics. Meanwhile, some Charismatics feel they’re more in tune with the heart and power of God. But can’t we see that both are needed? Most denominations carry a piece of God’s character. Why not work together in balance and humility, instead of letting Satan’s pride trap keep dividing us?

When people start to believe they’re more loved by God, more anointed, more intelligent, or more powerful than others—they’ve completely missed the heart of the Gospel. Jesus didn’t die so we could compare who’s more spiritual. He died to set us free from legalism (Pharisee Vs. Pagans), perfectionism, and self-righteousness. The truth? None of us can be obedient without the Holy Spirit. We’re all blind in some area. We all need God’s mercy. And we all have equal access to His love and power—no one is better than the next.

“For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are…” 1 Corinthians 1:26-28

#7 Ignorantly, thinking you know everything.

You are not all-knowing nor do you have supreme wisdom. I’m sure you are smart and feel you are right 99.9% of the time, but you don’t know everything. Sometimes you are wrong even if you don’t realize it. People have gone through pain and darkness that you could never imagine. Wisdom is not one-size-fits-all; it must be applied differently based on different situations.

In the Biblical story of Job, his friends judged him when he experienced a series of terrible events. They said he was suffering because he sinned, as if people only suffer because of their bad choices. However, God rebuked his friends and said Job was being tested because he was the most humble man on earth. My goal is to never be like Job’s friends and give advice based on my opinions rather than what is right.

I once coached a woman who was being “harmed” every day. Coming from a place of privilege, I confidently suggested she simply move—like she hadn’t thought of that! Most of us would judge and criticize her… And wonder what she did to earn that situation and assert she doesn’t really want to get out badly enough. I felt deeply heartbroken for her. I realized that knowing what should be done isn’t always practical for everyone, and I needed God’s guidance to truly help her. I prayed that He would protect her and open a way forward. A few months later, God made a way. 

I hesitate to give simple advice because everyone’s situation and past is different. You can do everything right and still have horrible relationships. Or you can have amazing communication, which may trigger an abuser because they feel inferior and struggle with comparison, guilt, and shame. The truth is, you can follow advice and do everything right, but relationships can still fail due to one of these seven reasons. One size doesn’t fit everyone. True wisdom is flexible and bends to fit the needs of unique situations and people. Be teachable, as there is always more to learn.

So, don’t be quick to think you know it all — even if it seems simple. Be open to hearing what God or people have to say about things you “think” you know. Be slow to speak and quick to listen. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9

Related Article: Dying To Self: 4 Tips To Crucify the Flesh!

7 Steps To Overcome Pride

These seven steps will help you confront and overcome pride at the root and walk in true humility.

1. Accept the blood of Christ. Self-help tools can only take you so far. True transformation begins when you receive the healing power of Jesus Christ. Pride is a spiritual wound—and only God can fully restore what’s broken. You can’t fix yourself alone. You must have faith that His grace will carry you.
2. Stop trying to prove others wrong. Let them think what they want. If they misunderstand you or judge your heart—release it. Keep moving forward. God defends the humble. In time, He will silence the noise and elevate you in the right way, at the right time.
3. Don’t try to do everything by yourself. Ask for help. Seek advice. Pride says, “I got it.” Wisdom says, “Let me learn from someone else’s mistakes.” You don’t lose value by leaning on others—you gain protection, insight, and support. Want help addressing pride? I can help you! Try 20 mins of Empowerment Coaching now!
4. Don’t try to be better than others. Everyone is navigating their own battles. You don’t have to prove your worth by being stronger or smarter. Instead, use your strengths to serve and uplift others. Pride competes. Love collaborates.
5. A prideful heart must be purified. You can’t “perform” your way out of pride. The deeper healing comes from allowing God to expose and cleanse the emotions underneath—like fear, shame, and selfishness. Real humility comes from the inside out. 
6. Learn to love yourself. When you heal from insecurity, you stop pretending to be perfect. You stop hiding behind pride and start living in purpose. Knowing who you are in Christ helps you walk humbly without shrinking or boasting.
7. Stop being so hard on yourself. You’re allowed to be human. When you fall short, don’t spiral. Repent, learn, and try again tomorrow. Grace gives you permission to grow—without shame and without fear.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are the signs of a prideful person?
Pride can show up in many sneaky ways—like insecurity, perfectionism, and people-pleasing. It’s not always loud or arrogant. Sometimes it looks like secretly comparing, judging, or needing control to feel safe and valuable. Pride often masks deep wounds and unmet needs. (Read more here: 38 Signs Of Pride In A Person)

Q: Is pride really a sin?
Yes, pride is a sin because it pulls us away from dependence on God and to believe we have the power (control, manipulation, self-protection, hyper independence). It creates division, fuels judgment, and makes us believe we’re better than others. Pride aligns more with Satan’s mindset than Christ’s humility. The sin of pride causes us to partner with Satan’s plan to destroy others to feel better. It blocks healing and intimacy—with God and people.

Related Article: 4+ Ways To Defeat Unwanted Thoughts (15+ Bible Verses)

Q: What are examples of pride in the Bible?
Pharaoh’s refusal to listen, Saul’s self-righteousness, Jonah’s entitlement, and Eve’s desire to “be like God” all led to destruction. Each story reveals how pride can blind us and break us. But they also show God’s mercy when we turn back in humility. (Read more here: 26 Examples of Pride in the Bible)

Q: What does the Bible say about pride?
Scripture is clear: “Pride goes before destruction” (Proverbs 16:18), and “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). Pride deceives us into thinking we don’t need God. But humility positions us to receive grace and grow.

Q: Can religious pride hurt the church?
Yes, deeply. When denominations think they carry more truth or closeness to God than others, pride gets in the way of unity. Baptists, Charismatics, and every group reflect different parts of God’s heart. We need each other. Pride divides. Humility builds the Body.

Q: How do I overcome pride?
Ask God to gently reveal the areas where pride has taken root. Be open to feedback, admit when you’re wrong, and practice surrender. Pride tries to prove. Humility receives. Let God heal the parts of you that feel unworthy, so you don’t have to hide behind pride.