Enlightened Self-Interest (Selfishness!)

Selfishness is really just self-interest.  We are inherently and unavoidably selfish in everything we do.  No matter how altruistic our actions may look, we expect those actions to benefit us in some way or we wouldn’t do them.  (If you wonder, find someone to debate with you on the topic and see how it goes.)As we grow, we will continue to upgrade and develop in our selfishness.  One way to look at how our self-interest (selfishness) evolves follows below.Enlightened self-interest is the most important awareness you can have.There are many people who have tactical self-interest, meaning they are selfish and they want their sensory or immediate needs filled now.  These people are often takers or needy.  At this level, one is mostly about the physical things he or she can get: food, money, the best car, the biggest house, more sex, etc.  These needs tend to be immediate and strong.Others may be more strategic in their self-interest.  They are more patient and realize that they can invest in their self-interest long term.  Strategic self-interest is an improvement on tactical self-interest, but it can still come out as controlling or manipulative.  The perception of self-interest at this level is about securing one’s personal needs into the future.  At this level we are after longer term, more evolved “needs,” economic security, a position of respect and authority, fame, family, successful business, health, etc.Enlightened self-interest is when we can see the whole picture, and the broader the picture we can see, the higher level of self-interest we can engage in.  At this level we can see the impacts of all our actions on us, on those around us, on our environment, and ultimately back to us.  At this level we recognize that our actual needs have less to do with physical needs and more to do with more elusive needs like community, love, fun, play, joy, laughter, care, growth, etc.When do you connect to enlightened self-interest?Wherever we are at on the spectrum, we want to continue to evolve our self-interest to higher and higher levels.