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“Will springs from the two elements of moral sense and self-interest” - Abraham Lincoln
The concept of self-interest is commonly and mistakenly confused with selfishness. Selfish people are concerned excessively or exclusively with themselves. Self-interest, on the other hand, is vital for survival. If you don’t care about your self-interests, who will? Suffering is not a virtue.
Another erroneous belief is that exercising self-interest comes at the expense of someone else. We live in a world of abundance where there is more than enough for everyone. You deserve to have a satisfying and rewarding life. You are not the cause for anyone having less than you do.
When you are hungry you eat. When you are tired you sleep. You work to make money for living expenses. You enjoy being comfortable. You want to be happy. All of these activities and emotions are rooted in self-interest. Acting in your own self-interest is normal. It is not something to be ashamed of.
If you are not OK, you can’t help others. This is why flight attendants instruct passengers to, in an emergency, put on their own oxygen masks before assisting others. Health care workers make sure all their vaccinations are current so they don’t catch anything while caring for the sick.
So if you should feel that there is something wrong with self-interest, what is the alternative? Is being miserable preferable? Do you really think the circumstances of others will improve by your suffering? No one benefits when the quality of your life is diminished. The only way to help someone else is to bring them up to a higher level.
Your self-interest includes many areas. You have to take care of your physical health. This includes diet, exercise, and sleep. Doing everything possible to stay healthy is to your benefit. You will never be derided for taking care of yourself.
A healthy mind is just as important as a healthy body. Happy people with a positive outlook have more satisfying lives than their negative counterparts. It is certainly in your self-interest to engage in pursuits you find rewarding. Appreciating all of the good things in your life is also advantageous.
Economic well being is another important element. There can be a stigma attached to financial success. But the degree of economic success one experiences is directly proportional to the amount of service rendered to others. Additionally, the only people in a position to help those who are less fortunate are the ones who earn more than enough to provide for their needs. A person who is barely making ends meet has nothing extra to spread around.
Who do charities turn to for financial support? They call on those who have the means to offer generous donations. Rather than being selfish, financial success enables one to reach out and give a hand to people in need.
Self-esteem is linked to self-interest. When you take care of your needs, you feel good. You are in control of your destiny. People who believe they are dependent on someone else for their well being develop a victim mentality which in turn leads to low self-esteem.
Take a strong interest in yourself. Do those things that benefit you. Always act in a moral and ethical manner. When you take care of your needs you will be in a position to help others. The more you are of service to others, the more you will attract what you need and want.
NOW AVAILABLE: "Dare to Live Without Limits," the book. Visit www.BryanGolden.com or your bookstore. Bryan is a management consultant, motivational speaker, author, and adjunct professor. E-mail Bryan at
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or write him c/o this paper. 2009 Bryan Golden
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