There is something that I’ve learned along the way that bears re-learning. In fact, I would go so far as to say that I am reminded of this on a regular basis. Sometimes my wife or other family members remind me. Other times circumstances conspire to show me that, despite my best intentions and planning, I am not always right. Even our Life Group members have what I might call a fond appreciation for showing me when I am wrong!

Let’s face it, being right is a heady thing. It feels good to be “in the know” and to have answers that others might not have. It can quickly progress, however, from a good feeling to an ego boost and on into arrogance. Here is where it becomes important to draw the line between these extremes. The search for being right most, or all of the time, can easily become all-consuming. Why? Well, think about the opposite of being right: that is, being wrong. How deflating is it to think that you have cornered the market on correctness only to find out that you were on the wrong track and someone else gets the trophy for being right? This can be painfully deflating! When taken to an extreme it can feel like a black mark on our ego and sense of self-worth.

Reality? It is a tragedy only when we have based our sense of worth on being right and others being wrong. This becomes more than a playful, “You’re right again!” only to become “Why do you think you HAVE to be right all the time?!” It has been my experience that no one is right all of the time. Some people are right more than others, and there are lots of possible reasons for that, like experience and education. However, when a person’s ego or sense of self-worth is built around this sense of superiority, then being right all of the time can be a character flaw rather than a positive character trait.

What might be the antidote to the “I’m always right syndrome”? It might be an embarrassing confrontation with someone who has grown weary of your attitude. It might be that your boss calls you into his office to lower the boom on you. For me, it was during my high school years when my parents and sister sat me down and confronted me with my attitude. Did it work? Sure did…for a while.

But I have another, and better antidote. How about making the choice to humble ourselves? Get this: you can be right most of the time and never, or rarely, even talk about it! Making the choice to humble ourselves lets off the pressure of feeling like we should voice our superiority. Every time we express superiority we leave someone with a feeling of inferiority, and that too often means someone we love. Humbling ourselves means putting others before us, refusing the temptation to leave them feeling less than us. Instead, when we love we lift them up, even at the cost of being humbled in their eyes.

Did I learn this all at once? No. Remember, these are things that I have learned along the way. In other words, this has taken some time and practice. Am I 100% consistent with it? Not yet, but that’s the goal. Make it yours as well.

Chuck Phillips

Life Choices Christian Counseling,LLC

Licensed Christian Pastoral Counselor, N.C.C.A.

Board Certified Professional Life Coach, I.B.C.C.

LifeChoicesCLC.Com LifeChoicesCLC@gmail.com

573-280-5093