The Perks of Selfishness

“No-one would remember the Good Samaritan if he’d only had good intentions; he had money as well.” – Margaret Thatcher

Selfishness is usually seen as a flaw. We have assigned so many negative connotations to selfishness that some people even think of it as an insult. To be called selfish is to be called a bad person, someone who cares only for themselves and has no sense of sympathy for anyone else.

But assuming someone has such strong negative characteristics only because they can be considered as selfish person is a long shot.

I have met “selfish” individuals that have contributed to the world so much more than my most selfless friends.

Defining Selfishness

The truth is that selfishness have nothing to do with our contribution to the world, to society, to our country or to our family and friends.

Selfishness is defined by the priorities that we hold in relation to certain activities or the benefits derived from such activities. In other words, a truly selfish person is someone who chooses to act towards the improvement of their circumstances despite the circumstances of others around them. This doesn’t mean s/he doesn’t care for others, it simply means s/he is primarily concerned about his/her circumstances.

Selfishness is characterised by inward driven movements. All the actions of a selfish person are aiming to obtain something for them: Wealth, knowledge, experiences, emotional or spiritual gratification, etc.
Selfishness and Contribution

Some people think selfishness is defined by how much a person contributes to their surrounding. But this is also inaccurate. What people really mean is that selfishness is defined by how much effort a person puts in contributing to their surrounding.

If Jane drops off college to go to Africa with the Red Cross to help kids in need, is unlikely she would be considered a selfish person. But this conclusion would usually be reached without taking a look to the actual contribution she might have made.

But if Jane forgets the idea of going to Africa, instead gets her degree and becomes an important contributor to a pharmaceutical company, she might be in danger of being considered selfish person. She better do something selfless quickly if she wants to avoid social condemn. So Jane manages to convince the Board of Directors of the pharmaceutical to set a relief fund and $1.000.000 is sent to a local NGO in Nigeria every year to help single mothers.

Is Jane still a selfish person in comparison to the Jane that went to work with the Red Cross? Our primary response would be yes. After all, the $1.000.000 is not much for a big pharmaceutical company, and is not coming out of Jane’s pocket. She hasn’t even worked for it! She has made little or no effort in comparison with the Jane that spent a year sleeping in a tent.

But how is effort more relevant that results when talking about selfishness?

You Have to Learn Before You Can Teach

We apply this same flawed logic in our daily lives. We sacrifice results in order to foster selflessness. We condemn people as selfish because they worry for their personal development and the improvement of their lives first. But wouldn’t they be in a position to make a greater impact in the world or in the life of those around them if they improve their circumstances (greater knowledge and awareness, more money and resources) first?

What if Bill Gates would have dropped Microsoft in the early stages to go fight hunger in third world countries? The Bill and Melinda Gate’s Foundation would have never existed. And is far proven that Bill Gate’s foundation has contributed more to their causes that what he could have done as a single individual in a lifetime.

Giving all you have (not only physically, but also emotional and spiritual) is not of great use if you don’t have much. This is what Margaret Thatcher meant when she said the phrase on the top of this article: Intentions might be a start, but are not enought by itself. After all, they say the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Selfishness is not a sin. Is simply a different method to improve ourselves as individuals. When we become better human beings by acquiring knowledge, awareness and resources, we cannot do other thing that to contribute to the world, it would be so even against our will.

I am not encouraging you to be a bad person or to care less for you loved ones, I’m only inviting you to work on improving yourself in every aspect of your life beyond anyone else around you in order to be able to have a greater and significant positive impact in their lives.