Pride & Cowardliness

Soren writes that pride and cowardliness are the same. The focus on self and not God seems to be the underlying similarity. "The proud person always wants to do the right thing, the great thing, and he is actually struggling not with people, but God" because he wants to do it in his own power. Doing so can also make us fearful because it is all about us. A lot of us is vulnerable when we attempt great things. When we dedicate our efforts to honor God, that self-focus dissipates. We leave the results to him and do not look for affirmation, applause, and attention, from others-particularly the fickle crowd. Those things are wonderful if we receive them. It just can't be the reason why we do it to start with. That is what Soren calls the "Reward Disease."