On selfishness...

I find that human beings are increasingly encouraged to be selfish – to pursue their own individual needs without careful consideration to the needs of those around them. And to a certain degree, being selfish is a necessary condition for success. 

However it’s also quite paradoxical. Success can be quite alluring and exquisite. But, that sweetness and greatness become greatly diminished if in your pursuit of success you have alienated those that were once by your side. You see, in a way, selfishness kills spiritual/emotional progress. 

The key, as with everything, is to find a balance. Yes – I will strive to succeed at my goals, but I will not be negligent to the needs and emotions of others. 

This is something that I'm always struggling with. Except that in my case, I'm usually too giving and indulgent with my time and energy and end up sacrificing my goals and needs for the benefit of others. This is something that I do willingly. However, the problem lies with the fact that I expect the same treatment and frequently get disappointed when others fail to meet expectations. I find that I'm constantly asking myself - how can I be more selfish without permanently damaging my relationships? Or also, how can I express my needs to those that I care about without sounding excessively needy or demanding?  

Well, these are just some random thoughts I'm having this morning. If any of you struggle with the same things, or have suggestions on how to handle the whole success/selfishness/altruism issue (or any other issue for that matter) please, leave me a comment below.