What does it mean to be selfless? to think less of one self? to give of one self without expecting anything in return? What about selfish? What does that mean? to take for oneself? to think only of one self?
As I sit and think about these words and their meaning I realize they have one thing in common. SELF. But I think we need to look deeper at the words themselves. Break them down to a basic thought. Selfless when broken apart is self and less. OK self, I know, means me. Less means, well just that, less not more, not a lot, it is a smaller amount. So put there two pieces together and the basic meaning is less than me. So a word that should be positive is now negative. Why would anyone want to be less than who they are? Does that mean that all the selfless giving, selfless caring is bad? Maybe if we lose who we truly are.
Following the same steps with selfish you end up with self and ish. I dont know if "ish" has a meaning (for the record it doesnt really but indicates "having the qualities or characteristics") When you add "ish" to self you end up with a negative feeling word. No one ever wants to be called "selfish". It makes you sound bad, unthinking, uncaring of others.
As I began to reflect on the words I realize that they could both be positive and negative. When we look at our journies, our lives, our futures we need to decide how the two words are going to make their presence known. In my journy I have been selfless, giving, caring, loving to the people in my life. Possibly to the point of forgetting who I was, losing my identity. Thats the negative side. I have never been selfish. I have never put my needs before those of my family. I am not sure if that is positive or negative, how should that be looked at. I am now looking at who I am and who I want to be. I want to be selfish, I want my needs to be first, I want my wants to be put before someone elses. OK is that the negative side of selfish? Can that really be negative? If my wants and needs lead to a better, happier, healthier me living a longer life, is it really bad to put them first?
I want to be here for my family, for my children, for my grandchildren, for my great grandchildren (if that is meant to be) PLEASE dont tell my children I mentioned grandchildren, I want them to live their lives first!! In order to have the life I look forward to I need to be selfish. I need to take time for me, make my workouts a priority, ensure that I fuel my body with healthy wholesome food. I need to care for myself as if I am caring for someone else. I need to give less, to take more. In order to continue to be selfless I need to become more selfish. I AM THE PRIORITY!
The positive side of selfishness is to look after yourself with out ignoring the needs of others. To become more selfish means to become less selfless. By becoming more selfish means I can also be more selfless. This act takes any neagitvity out of both words, making them a positive force to deal with, which makes me a better, healthier, happier person.
To be selfless in the selfishness means I will not give up who I am. Selfish may mean to take but to take time for me means I will be a better person.
Basic lesson, One must be selfish to be selfless!
side note I did look up the meaning of selfless and selfish. I will always be concerned about others needs and will not ever lack the consideration of others or take for my own profit. I may take for my pleasure but I will always return the favor.