Selfish Altruism – everything IS about ME.

I have a perspective that each of us can only give what we have, what we possess, own, or hold.

Seems logical –

• If my bucket is empty, I can’t give you anything out of it.
  • If the bank account registers as $0, there is nothing to spend.
    • If my gas tank is empty, the car can’t go anywhere.

I have discovered that translates into my own “accounts.”

• I love others to the same depth and breadth that I love myself.
  • I can only care for others to the degree that I am healthy.
    • I have to put on my own oxygen mask first, or I die. Dead people can’t help others.

It is in the development of me that I am a better parent, spouse, employee, committee member,

… a better person.

When I look around the World at all the things I perceive as wrong,

all the things that are unjust,

the things I want to change…

I can feel overwhelmed. That quickly turns to helplessness, even hopelessness.

“What can I do?”

That’s where it begins, this idea of Selfish Altruism, because the only thing I really have control over is me – and that’s on a good day!

Selfish Altruism is built on the concept that by taking care of me and my needs, I can help support you and my community. From a healthy “I”, I can change the World.

It starts by understanding, we all develop from the inside out:

first clearly developing and defining who “I” am,

….which informs and allows me to develop interpersonal relationships between “we,”

….and through those interpersonal relationships, developing, defining and impacting our “us” – our communities and World.

It’s not a linear development, however. We continue to circle back from the middle to the outside, always starting with “I”.

It looks like this

That spiral continues throughout our lifetime: from infancy to toddler-hood where,  we learn all about what “I” can do.

Through our relationship with parents, family and friends we learn about “we.”

Through interactions in groups like preschool, church, or community, we learn about the bigger World, “us.”

Then we go to school.

We learn more about what “I” can do.

Then about the interactions between peers… “we”

      then how our classroom and school is impacted by “us.”

Then we go to Junior High, High School, College or Post High School, First job, hooking up, getting really attached, maybe kids, empty nests, retiring…..

The spiral repeats.

Each time the most important focus is the “I” (See that little red asterisk? That’s where it starts.).

THAT’S how it works. Our “I” is the center of all we know, understand, believe, do, and expect.

Not all of us got this started well. Abuse, illness, drama and trauma….

Our childhood, our experiences…  sometimes they get in the way of truly loving ourselves, valuing who we are and what we have to offer.  In turn, that’s gotten in our way of healthy relationships with others and our World.

But that’s okay.

Together, we can change that, right here!

I’d like to take you on this journey with me of acquiring and using the skills we need to respect and love, first and foremost ourselves.

Loving others, changing the World… those things will come naturally as our “I” gets clearer, stronger,

Together we will grow in our self-love, self-respect, and self-worth.

It’s a journey I’ve been on for awhile. I want to share what I’ve learned and I want the opportunity to learn from you (that means you have to comment, BTW) so we can move forward in big ways – together.

Together we will build a community of healthy people ready to support and expand and change the World.

It starts with you, with your commitment to your “I”.

It’s a big commitment to yourself.

Are you ready?

Are you worth it?

After all, it REALLY is all about ME!

Hit the comments below to let me know you’re in. I will comment back!

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And thanks!

With Respect,

Leah R. Kyaio

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