Selfishness — a sin or a virtue?

Selfishness is not among the 7 deadly sins. Some may even argue that it is a virtue. Selfishness — the act of placing yourself before others is many situations can be seen as a healthy thing to do for your own survival. Whereas its opposite — altruism- can lead to mental stress and a very negative perception of the world.

Toxic selfishness far outweighs pathological altruism

However, there is too much selfishness in this world leading to literally toxic behaviors. Smokers are selfish because their pleasure and relief is more important than air pollution and subjecting others to near-fatal passive smoke.

Carnivores consider their eating pleasure above that of animal abuse and slaughter that is in a karmic turn of events, leading to climate destruction. People who have kids are selfish as their kids leave carbon footprints in the world, larger than any other fossil fuel, lessening the livability of the planet for the rest of the generations.

As much as you can disagree, pathological altruism can never lead to generational negative impacts.

Survival of the fittest but it is about balance

Some selfishness is inevitably imperative for personal survival. But how much self-obsession is ever enough?

Self-centeredness ultimately leads to discontent. Selfishness does not guarantee happiness. Far from the opposite, selfish folks find fault in everything and everybody.

However being a little self-centered protects your from being taken advantage of or used which also results in heavy trauma and unbearable stress. A little self-love and self-care — at the benevolent spectrum of self-centeredness — goes a long way.

All said and done, selfishness may not be a deadly sin but is most definitely not a virtue to brag about — not even if you practice self-love which might give the impression of narcissism. Altruism may sound saintly — not if it results in co-dependency. The deadlier combination would be a virtue-signaling toxic mix of pathological altruism constantly in need of self-care.