Self-Management

What is the opposite of humility?  Many people say it is pride.  I do not.  Pride is too fuzzy, and does not give much direction about what to do.  Be less prideful?  What is that?  Rather, I think the opposite of humility is trying to manage life on your own power.  When you do this, the first thing you lose is "gratefulness."  Why would you be grateful to God or anyone else if you think you are doing fine on self-will power?  The journey to falling apart and hitting a spiritual bottom begins with failing to be grateful for what you have and taking time to say "thank you."  Prayer is a way of saying, "thank you."   This becomes fertile soil for humility.  My best days at prayer are when I begin with gratefulness for what I have.  I don't complain that the world ignores my blog, but rather am thankful for the handful of those who seem to get something out of it.  You who are reading this, "thank you."  Maybe I am a lousy blogger?  Oops! Get thee away self-pity.