Being Selfish: Good or Bad?

Let’s start with this thought from Abraham-Hicks:

Hypothetically, people worry about everyone being selfishly oriented. “If everyone did exactly what they want to do, what kind of world would this be?” And we say, a really, really good one. Because if everyone did what they wanted to do, everyone would feel free. And if you feel free, you feel empowered. And every negative emotion that exists—hear this—every negative emotion that exists is because there is some sense of loss of freedom somewhere in there.

My two cents:

I love this and find it to be true!

I love the idea of everyone doing what they want and experiencing the freedom of that. Feeling free is where it is at as far as I am concerned. I agree that every negative emotion exists because of a percived loss of freedom, or that you will not get what you desire. Think about it for a minute. Think back to the last time you felt let down, taken advantage off or jealous and tell me what was at the root of those feelings. 

I posted this thought in the Defy the Box group on Facebook and people really got triggered by it. I heard lots of stories around how people are only out for themselves, and no one really thinks about other people, and advocating being selfish just fuels that problem. Or you can not trust your own ego to be leading you in the right direction so you should not do what you want to begin with. You will end up hurting yourself and other people. 

To me, being selfish does not mean that I get what I want and I do not care about you, but rather I know it is my job to take care of my needs and desires, just like it is your job to do that for yourself. When people are  empowered to be responsible for their own feelings and experiences in life, they do not look to others to make them happy or to give them what they need, they take care of those things themselves. It sets you up to look to yourself for solutions and answers. After all, you are the only one who knows what is right for you. 

I find that there are many people who have this idea backwards. they look to others to fulfill their needs, and tend to take care of others before themselves.

There is a reason that they tell you on the air plane to put your Oxygen mask on before you put on someone else’s.

Any one have any thoughts on this?