I don’t know anyone who’d proudly describe themselves as “selfish.” That may be our biggest problem.
But what if I told you that “selfishness” is the only goal worth pursuing?
There are two different types of “selfishness:”
- One comes from the Ego and is about accumulating resources (power, money, energy, access)
- The other is our fundamental human duty to take care of ourselves first, before we can take care of someone else’s needs––if we want to.
The problem is that we tend to mix them up.
When my son was two, I noticed I wasn’t spending enough time brushing my teeth––watching a toddler is a 24/7 job. Sure enough, my dentist confirmed there was work to be done.
She said that brushing wasn’t the issue, but that pregnancy and lactation had taken a big toll on my calcium reserves.
Not sure if the explanation squares up, but it’s an adept analogy: if I want to give, I need to have. But if my tank is empty, I’ve nothing to give.
“See?,” my Ego’s saying. “That’s why accumulating is good. Grab more, more, more, so that you never run out.”
But my True Self, my Inner Being doesn’t mean that type of selfishness. For the Inner Being, selfishness means alignment: I am selfish when I’m being true to my Self.
When I’m respecting my own resonance instead of looking for approval.
When I don’t take into account what others think of me and don’t need external validation.
When I’m generous because it’s who I am, not because I fear being rejected.
In this view, being selfish is generous. Because when you’re full, well rested, and happy, you become the gift that keeps on giving.
What will change for you when you embrace “selfishness?”
Love,
Carolina