Why We Should Not Boast

It takes me so many years before I can really understand the reason why God tell us not to boast. I heard sayings like accomplishment speaks for itself, so do not boast. But it's not easy to understand why boasting is bad. What's wrong with telling others about your accomplishment when it is a reality? This used to be my question. But now I got the answer.

Often, during the time that I was depressed, heart-broken, and quite hopeless about life,  I overheard someone speaking so happily about how lucky he or she had been about love, about life. It cut like a knife. I felt like I wanted to shut my ear and scream. Sometimes it caused jealousy to happen inside. Sometimes it didn't but it made me sad anyway. Then I remember going to funeral or wedding when I had to sit at a table where people were boasting to each other  about how cool their new car was or how brilliant their future plan was going to be. They were really "boasting", it's not just their words alone. They were laughing and speaking through their eyes...see how great my life is? see how successful I am? My life is happier than yours. It was such a pain sitting at a table with them. It was like sitting with a bunch of devils who try to put people down by stamping on them with boastful words. And I remember one of my best friends saying "you know, I really can't stand people who talk like they think they are superior than everyone."

Nobody wants to be reminded of what they lack or what they have lost or what they have failed or they want but never get a chance to have. And when we boast, it's like we do just that...we remind them that they don't have what we have. We may not have the intention to hurt them but we hurt them anyway.

Now I look back and regret the times when I boasted about my success, my life, my trip, my love...etc. I thought I didn't do anything wrong but I wasn't thinking about how what I said might affect those who hear it. Now I think it's wiser to keep my happiness inside and act humbly in front of others. It's not an easy thing to do but I'm trying anyway. I admit that I'm not good at being humble at all because my heart can be hard and unbending at times and I'm a natural-born Leo. But at least I see now why I should try that.

If there is anything boastful in this blog, please forgive me and know that I didn't intentionally do it.

PS. The picture is from the internet. It's not mine.