Selfish
Is it selfish to prioritize your own mental and physical health, before trying to help those around you? Is it selfish to prioritize your own aspirations, before the wants and needs of family and friends? We’ve been told that selfishness isn’t a trait we should embody as humans. Within certain contexts, it may be true. But, there’s a clear difference between negative and positive selfishness.
Of course, we should always evaluate and consider the well-being of others while making certain decisions. But, we should never sacrifice our own aspirations, our own mental stability, for altruistic purposes. If this is the only life we’re blessed with, there’s a certain level of selfishness we must have. The most successful people in the world had to be selfish with their time, with their energy, to achieve their other-worldly aspirations. If we go through life, prioritizing the wants and needs of those around us, we’d never have the energy necessary to pursue the life our heart truly desires.
It’s absolutely impossible to help others, without first taking the time to help ourselves. Taking care of yourself, setting boundaries, and pursuing your own aspirations can lead to a more balanced and fulfilling life. It's essential to prioritize self-care and maintain a healthy level of self-interest to function effectively and even be able to support others. Finding that balance between selfishness and altruism is something we should all be mindful of as we navigate this life. Taking care of yourself isn’t selfish, prioritizing your own goals and aspirations isn’t selfish.
Service to others is the rent we pay for our room on this Earth, but we must first do the self-work to be able to pay that rent.