Selfishness is viewed in a negative light by most people. Selfishness is usually equated with stinginess, unconcern for others, ruthlessness, and egotism. However, in order to know whether selfishness is really bad we need to define it. According to the World English Dictionary, selfishness is the state of being chiefly concerned with one’s own interest or advantage. Can you honestly say that you are not chiefly concerned with your own interest or advantage? Well, if you say you are then that means you are selfish. Doesn’t sound so bad and evil anymore, does it?
Really, every single person is inherently selfish. This is part of what it means to be human. We are conscious beings and therefore have the ability to make our lives better by innovation and skill. We aren’t just hardwired to live and behave in a certain way (at least I hope you aren’t). This is in large part what distinguishes us from animals.
Why do we associate all these bad qualities then with being selfish? It is because we are only looking at the bad kind of selfishness to draw our perceptions of it. The question is not should we be selfish or not, but rather how should we be selfish? Should we selfishly gorge on junk food because it fulfills a momentary urge or selfishly go for healthy snacks instead that will guarantee us better health and more longevity? Should we selfishly bully other people to make us feel superior, or selfishly give respect to others to forge quality relationships and connections that will bring great opportunities for financial success and emotional well-being? Should we selfishly spend our time watching movies and reading novels, or selfishly spend our time improving our skills and exercising our body so we feel good about ourselves and have more opportunities of advancement in the world?
I am selfish. You are selfish. However, you do have a choice to make. What kind of selfishness will you practice? The kind that will bring you ongoing joy, health, and security, or the kind that will bring you disease, no friendships, and self-loathing? Choose wisely.