I want you to be SELFISH and here’s why

Growing up, to be selfish was considered an evil reserved for the best candidates of hellfire. Being a religious little boy, it was important to purge myself of every trace of selfishness. Today, I know better. Selfishness is not a vice but a virtue. This may come as a surprise to some people but it is true. Before I learned about it, I was lost and spent all I had trying to be nice to people. Everything is different now. Walk with me and I will explain why I think differently about selfishness now.

As a young child, I was a very devoted church boy. Some common church principles included that Jesus gave his life for us and we must give ours for others. The church leaders did not spare any details when it came to teaching this because they benefitted from your selflessness. For many people, selflessness goes beyond the church to their private lives. If you have 2 loaves, you should give one to the person who has none. People often want to be like the widow who gave everything she had. In reality, many young people sacrifice their well-being, personal development and careers chasing selfless acts.

I know a young man who had a decent job and earned enviable pay but you see, he gave everything away. He wanted to care for everyone else but himself. He was always unkempt and lacked basic needs. His belief was that ‘these things will not matter in heaven’. Many years later, his colleagues were ahead of him in personal development, earning and career. He still believed that at the right time, God will get him ahead of his colleagues. Now, most religious people may not see what is wrong with this mindset and that is okay.

To set the records straight, this piece is not about religion but about a mindset that encourages people to be selfless. In deference, I will like to invite you to be a little more selfish. If you prioritize your own well-being over those of others, I am certain that you will be better for it. Invest in your education, read some books and find new ways to improve yourself. You can help people, no doubt. But make yourself a priority in all that you do. The good book encourages us to love our neighbour as we love ourselves. Remember that. The instruction is not to love your neighbour more than you love yourself. Before you start sponsoring people on trips and pieces of training, be sure that you already took those for yourself.

Don’t let church, family and other needs hold you back. Learn to embrace your true self and you will grow faster and go further. As the new year begins, set the four goals you would like to accomplish for yourself and commit to working them out.