From a certain perspective, everything you do is selfish. Why do you do something “nice” for someone? Maybe you expect something in return. Maybe you’d feel guilty or socially awkward if you didn’t do it. Or maybe it just makes you feel good to do something nice. Whatever the case, you’re doing something because it somehow […]
Are You Selfish or Selfless?
There is only one surefire cure for selfishness: getting even better at it. Suppose your tribe lives in a small village. The neighboring village catches fire. What do you do? You can be selfish. You can tell yourself you didn’t start this fire, so it’s not your responsibility to put it out. Maybe you never […]
When You Get Nervous, Focus on Service
by James Robbins, M.A., LPC I tend to be skeptical of advice that rhymes. No pain, no gain. An apple day keeps the doctor away. But I do like author Doreen Virtue’s rhyming wisdom: When you get nervous, focus on service. Pretend for a moment that you were put on this planet for one and […]