”Realize that by helping each other we’re really helping ourselves.”

It seems like humans are feeling more lonely and isolated than ever before. And whereas there are varying root causes to this I wish to adress one possible explanation.

Self-empowerment, self-help, self-actualization, self-care,

self, self, self =

Self-absorbtion.

While I believe the self-help industry has many positive side effects, I also believe that the moment we become too self-absorbed the negative effects outweigh the positive ones. In other words, if you’re overly concerned with yourself, your own feelings and thoughts you might easily turn into a self-absorbed human being.

Don’t get me wrong, I still believe in self-empowerment, self-actualization and self-growth. I believe in self-love. Compassion towards others begins with compassion towards the self. It’s nothing wrong in wanting to improve and evolve as a human being, in fact, it’s a necessity for us in order to evolve as a spieces.

You’re not special.

I think it was the Dalai lama who said that whenever he is having a talk in front of thousands of people he always reminds himself that he’s just like everyone else. He doesn’t think of himself as someone special. To believe that he would be any different would only exclude him from the others, hence, make him feel lonely and secluded.

You’re not special, however, that doesn’t mean that you’re not essential. You’re needed, just like everyone else. We were all born the same way, and we will eventually die one day.

It’s by helping others that we’re really helping ourselves. To be the best we can be, not only for our own selfish benefits, but for the highest good of all. Not neglecting ourselves, but using our skillsets creating and living for the highest good of humanity. In other words, how can you use your competences and experiences in order to serve another human being?

Personally, I’ve noticed that whenever I find myself in a difficult and challenging situation it usually helps to look at it from a bird’s eye view. A great way to do this is to take a step back and help another person in need, in order to get some perspectives on your own situation.

Usually these difficult situations aren’t unique in any way, in fact, they are experienced by a great deal of humans. Nevertheless, this doesn’t mean that you’re not allowed to feel sad about your situation. Of course you are; your feelings are valid. However, I believe that having a wider perspective at life will in fact make us feel less lonely. Life comes with pain and suffering, love and laughter. But to be fully absorbed by our own problems and difficulties day in and day out will eventually only create more suffering.

With this being said, I don’t propose that we should stop working on ourselves. We should in deed better ourselves, and be curious enough to explore all aspects of ourselves, nonetheless, not purely for our own egoistical needs, but for the sake of all living beings.

❤