Be Selfish
Do it so everyone can be better.
Most people’s parents or close friends would recommend the opposite. Don’t be selfish. Always share, always think of others, always be considerate. They’re not wrong, but telling people to not be selfish in order to reach these places is.
The word selfish has adopted a strong undertone of negativity. People are put down for being selfish and others often feel hurt if they feel affected by someone acting in their own interest.
What we often forget is that we need selfishness.
This isn’t about saying go be selfish and hurt everyone else.
Being selfish allows us to show up in the world. It creates the space needed in order to remember everyone else. Every time we make a decision that is selfish we can become a better person.
Our inability to look forward and truly see future consequences is what has led us to be so against being selfish. It is viewed as doing something in the moment regardless of the repercussions, but more for the instant gratification. It is when these decisions are made for no one that being selfish gets a bad rep.
In order to make a truly selfish decision, we must have that power of foresight. Seeing the further results of every decision we make will help everyone to see what actions are truly going to be best for us.
Viewing selfishness as doing things truly for yourself means viewing it as doing what increases personal well-being.
Most definitions will say that being selfish is doing things that lack the consideration of others. The fact is that taking care of ourselves in the end is better for everyone. If we act in a way that hurts others, we will hurt as well.
There is no decision that will affect only us. Everyone and everything in this world is undeniably connected by countless threads. Each and every decision any one of us makes has the power to either better us as a whole, or hurt us.
So, be selfish. Do it with the knowledge that when you pluck at the strings of the world’s web, the ripple will touch others then always come back to you.
