It's o.k. to be Selfish

Something has had me thinking lately.  Is it o.k. to be selfish?  I would say it has to be.  When you get a scholarship instead of someone else, you're selfish for accepting it because it could help someone else.  Know what though?  Nobody blames you for accepting that scholarship.  When you have a job and get yourself a new one, you guessed it, that's being selfish too.  You're leaving one job, where your coworkers will now be impacted negatively because they have to pick up the slack.  Even if the company hires someone else, there's ramp up time and there are always projects and/or tasks that someone has to pick up in the meantime.  Does that mean you should never try to get a job while you have one?  Of course not.  So clearly, it's o.k. to be selfish.... even if it has a negative connotation.

That's not to say it's always right to be selfish.  Stealing someone's car certainly shouldn't be held up as a good thing to do.  Leaving the scene of an accident when nobody is around and not leaving a note providing contact details is less selfish but is still a bit more selfish than I'd say is o.k.

So, as with many things, selfish is o.k., even preferred, in moderation.  So, next time someone tells you you're being selfish, don't be quite as offended.  If you feel you should be offended, consider looking at what you're being told you're being selfish about and decide for yourself if you're being selfish and if so, if it's reasonable to be selfish in that way.  If it's not reasonable, consider changing your ways.  If it is reasonable, recognize that the comment should not be offensive... after all, we're all selfish a lot of the time, and it's only healthy.