What is the relationship between looking out for yourself and looking out for others? How do you keep the balance? Or … and this may be controversial, is there any balance to keep? There are many opinions about the merit of self-interest, but we could turn to one great example for his thoughts. Benjamin Franklin cautioned us to deny self for self’s sake.
Today on Thinking with Somebody Else’s Head, Self-Centeredness – A One-Way Street Going the Wrong Way.
I first wanted to make another quick announcement here while I have your attention about a new program we’ll be launching soon for you to learn more about the concepts that form the basis of our work on this program. The great and important work of Norberto Keppe and his studies in psycho-socio-pathology. This will be a monthly program of articles and teleclasses where you can participate directly and learn more about yourself and how to apply this to helping others in your families, workplaces, communities, schools, etc. I’ll be sending out something more specific to those of you who are interested, so make sure I have your email if you are. Write me at rich@richjonesvoice.com
A couple of weeks ago, Claudia Pacheco and I had a look at narcissism, one of the hot topics down here in Brazil in our scientific meetings about psycho-socio-pathology. And very popular as a download on iTunes as well. And I wanted to approach the subject again – one because it’s something of a way of being that I see creating havoc, not only in my life, but in the lives of many of my friends and family members. And second, because it is such a key that opens a door to understanding many of the problems we face in our society.
You see self-interest blatantly expressed in huge corporations driven by greedy shareholders who don’t give 2 cents for the company except as a vehicle to make them money.
You see it in financial advice books like the one by Donald Trump and Robert Kiyosaki which cautions that the world’s economy is going down the toilet and the best way to protect yourself is to make as much money as you can. Incredible! Contribute to the destruction of the world (and the economy as a consequence) by focusing on making money only (a prime reason we are destroying the planet now) so that when the economy and everything else is completely destroyed by actions like yours, you can move to some paradise and leave everyone else holding the bag.
You see self-interest in the desperate drive to look out for number 1 first while millions starve.
Norbert Keppe writes and speaks about this constantly in his books and TV shows.
Today, I’m going to take a look at self-centeredness with psychiatric nurse and psychoanalyst here at Keppe’s International Society of Analytical Trilogy, Kerstin Arviddson.
Click here to listen to this episode.
Tags: narcissism and selfishness, psychology, society and culture