In response to Cameron’s question, “Is it ok to be selfish on the path to your dreams if your dream is an altruistic one?”

First I want to say this is a great question…good play on words.

Before anyone can answer this question first they have to decide what selfishness is. To me selfishness is when you don’t consider others in your actions especially when these other people are near. But I also feel not everything you do in the absence of consideration for others is selfish. Many times our actions are performed with consideration of others just the consideration may be unconscious. Usually if you go back and think about something you did you can come up with a reason as to how or why it was considerate of others but then there are times when you can’t.

For example many times one of my family members including myself will be in the kitchen getting ourselves a drink and we don’t offer each other a drink even when they are right there. Or if we are pouring ourselves a drink and someone ask us if they can have some they reply with a no. This is a classic example for my brothers (note they are both younger) if they are pouring a drink or popping some popcorn and I ask if I can have some they always reply, “no, get it yourself, get your own, were not your slave, you have two legs” and on and on and on. Now these are examples of selfishness but I don’t believe they will affect the path way to our dreams and goals.

So to answer your question I guess it depends on the degree of selfishness and whether or not if the act just appeared selfish rather than actually being selfish. So I suppose yes to some degree I would agree it is ok to be a little selfish to achieve your altruistic goals and dreams.

Question:

What is your definition of selfishness….how does it affect what you consider to be a truly selfish act??