Throughout my life, well into adulthood, I have been labeled mean, inconsiderate, and selfish. At times, I’ve resented the idea of relating to these terms, especially when dished out among family members, but in hindsight, being all about myself has placed me in a position to where I feel more confident and secure in how I choose to live my life.
As defined by Merriam-Webster, selfish is the act of being “concerned excessively with oneself; seeking one’s own advantage, pleasure, or well-being without regard for others.”
Reading the above definition is a dead giveaway to the negative connotations that we associate with the word “selfish”. Today, people expect more attention, love and affection from others, when in all actuality, they should be seeking these things from within.
If you are struggling with the concept of putting yourself first in EVERYTHING that you do or unsure of how to get started, here are 9 reasons why being selfish should not be seen as a bad thing.
You Can’t Pour From an Empty Cup
The main rule in being selfish (in a good way) is to understand that you can not pour into others if you are not fulfilled. If you are physically, mentally, and emotionally drained, how do you expect to be of any service to others?
Self-esteem
Improving your self-esteem is another big reason you should be selfish. This will lead to feeling like you are worthy of a happy life. No matter how many people tell you that you won’t become successful or put you down in some other way, you can still have high self-esteem. It comes from within you. You can train yourself to ignore the negatives.
Avoiding Resentment
Have you ever gone above and beyond for someone and did not receive that same thoughtfulness in return? How did that make you feel?
Now imagine if you gave just enough energy (not too much) and still received the same sentiment. You would not feel as shattered once you pace yourself.
Refining Compassion Skills
Compassion is the feeling you get when you want to help someone who is in need. But often times we want to be of service to others when we are not properly equipped to do so.
It is important that you pay attention to your own signs before answering help signals from the outside world. Developing self-compassion can give you the desire to fix whatever is ailing within you.
Working On Physical And Mental Health
Once you push towards being more selfish, you’ll quickly find out that you’ll have more time dedicated to working on overall health and wellness. Instead of focusing on others, take a moment to find what it is that you need. Go for it!
Personal Development
Being selfish with my time has allowed me to explore different facets of the things that I am good at, and even things that I would like to enhance. If you find yourself searching for a purpose, try developing a personal development format that highlights all of your best qualities.
You Wont Go Blaming Others
A lot of things can go wrong in life. But if you have taken charge of the situation from the beginning, you won’t feel hurt by being wronged by someone else. Rather, you will accept responsibility and take it with a grain of salt.
Experiencing Better Relationships
Since being a little more selfish in my adult life, I can wholeheartedly say that I have experienced more fruitful relationships. When being selfish, people will have a harder time manipulating or taking advantage of you thus results in connections that align with what you want.
You Will Be Happier
It may be hard to believe that you can achieve happiness by concentrating more on yourself. But it’s true, selfish people spend their time doing activities they like to do.
If you have a well-developed sense of who you are, what you enjoy and the ability to communicate this to others, you’ll be a happier person.