Personal - #501 - #15 – What’s the meaning of: “Selfish”

“You’re too selfish!” …… “Stop being so selfish!” …. “All you think about is yourself!”
Would you agree that “selfish” is a bad thing?
You would?
Well, let’s try another story…..

A man sees his best friend drowning in the lake. He, himself, is not a strong swimmer; but he takes off his shoes and dives in. He tries to swim out and save his friend. ….. IS HE “SELFISH”?
Why did he do it?
Could he have done it because something inside himself said to try? Could he have done it to satisfy “himself”? Could the “act” be beneficial to his friend; but the rescue “attempt” be to satisfy something within “himself”? …. Is this “selfish”? …. Done for “oneself”!!!

Could it be that “being selfish” is NOT so bad!!!

Can the “good” and the “bad” of selfish lie in a “definition”?

May I propose the following……

The only time “selfish” is BAD, is when you do something for yourself “at the expense of another!!!
If you do something for yourself (i.e. save a drowning friend to satisfy an urge within yourself) only GOOD can come from being “selfish”.
But…. If you take food away from your friend to satisfy your own hunger (at the expense of your friend) that would be a “bad” selfishness.

So there are two “selfish-nesses”……

1. A “selfishness” to serve yourself “at the expense of another”
2. And… A “selfishness” to serve yourself at “NO” expense to another; because you have an inner need to help, an inner need to serve, an inner need to follow… (You wish to do it for “yourself!)

So what’s wrong in being “selfish”? ……
NOTHING, if it’s the right “selfish”!

(Be careful when you use the word “selfish”. It may NOT be what you mean!!!)