Popular opinion says that being selfish is a bad thing and that you should avoid it at all costs. However, many people have been very successful at being selfish (including some of the people who say that being selfish is wrong). In this article, I’ll take a look at some of the pros and cons of being selfish, as well as tell you about an important decision you can make about your life that many people mislabel as selfish.
The advantages of being selfish
There are some clear advantages to being selfish. One of the biggest benefits is that you are almost completely immune to people who take advantage of you. The “user” type of person will learn very quickly that he will not be able to get you to do favors for him, so he will move on to other goals. Likewise, others won’t be able to guilt-manipulate you into doing things you really don’t want to do. Being selfish means you can spend more time doing the things you enjoy doing.
Another advantage you can get from being selfish is using your selfish desires to motivate yourself to succeed. You can read more about this in my previous article, “How to Find Your Burning Desire to Succeed.” Many people have chosen to take this route and have become very successful as a result.
The disadvantages of being selfish
Looking at all the advantages of being selfish, you would think that being selfish is clearly the best way to live your life. However, there are some definite downsides to being selfish. First, you will find it difficult to develop and maintain fulfilling friendships and relationships. People will not associate with you for long if you repeatedly demonstrate through your words and actions that you only care about yourself.
Another big disadvantage that you will find if you are selfish is doing any type of business. If all you care about is how you can benefit from others without taking them into account, sooner or later your business will fail.
A decision that is mischaracterized as selfish
There is a very important decision that you can make about your life that many people mistakenly see as selfish. This decision can have a big impact on your happiness. It is the decision to live your life the way you want, on your own terms. Many people live their lives according to other people’s standards and desires instead of their own. As a result, they live unhappy and unfulfilling lives. Choose a career because it’s something you really want to do, not because your family or friends say you should. Get married and start a family only if that’s something you really want, not just because society says it’s the right thing to do. Choosing to live as you want is not selfish, it means that you are a brave and self-confident person.
