Self-centeredness is a disease!
A disease that nearly every single man woman and child in our society has been intentionally infected with. This disease is deadly, more deadly than cancer or HIV, arguably the single greatest threat to mankind in human history.
what can be done?
Admit that you might be wrong. Try to see all things from the other person’s point of view.
Think carefully before you speak (or flip someone off.)
If anger is fueling your actions, you are going to be very sorry later. And later may be too late.
Study and Practice a spiritual discipline.
deeply and truly understand the concept that you are not the center of the universe.
Never forget that however much fun gossip and shit talk can be, the person telling the “dirt” to you is going talk about you the very next chance they get.
Also, whether you are “coping with your feelings” or “seeking advice” you are still talking shit. It’s character assassination no matter how you slice it. Don’t agree? Turn it around and imagine the situation reversed: now it’s YOU that your “friend” is talking about… see what i mean?
no… what do you mean?
money, a parking space, time, rank, status, and that ironic sense that you are the only one who know what’s what and everyone else is wrong is meaningless. Don’t agree? do you really think that you are always right and never wrong? Is it really always everyone else’s fault? If this is you, by definition of your actions, then you are insane and should seek medical help at once.
how can you say that?
empathy is the first test of sanity.
empathy
n : understanding and entering into another’s feelings
Source: WordNet 1.6, 1997 Princeton University
If you haven’t got the ability to understand and enter into another person’s feelings, or point of view then you are insane and should seek medical help immediately.
If you have this ability, yet you choose not to apply it to your life, your politics, your experience in traffic, your treatment of others, your own profession, your values and morality, your ego, your sex relations, your pride…
then i hate to be the one to tell you, but you are not only mentally ill, but you are criminally ill as well.
sadly this describes a growing number of our society in the western world. we would rather be “right” than happy or truly fulfilled. We would surely rather get ‘fucked,’ than be loved. And best of all, we would rather medicate ourselves and live like sleepwalking zombies in silent judgment of others than to wake up, unplug form the matrix, and do any degree of work on our own selves, our heart, our souls, or our minds…
We went to a vegetarian pot luck once, didn’t see anything spiritual there…
or better yet:
Hey asshole, don’t try to tell me about what’s spiritual and what’s not, i know what’s spiritual… the hell with you man…
heh…
Regardless,
you are in excellent and most popular company.
still, we wish all of us a very speedy and complete recovery…
love,
a couple of people who used to call you a “friend.”
Further Resources:
How to practice non-self
Roots of Empathy
empathy.com
Colorado State University
the empathy index
the empathy test
One Comment
I have to admit that I am afflicted with this disease, although occasionally I manage to keep the symptoms in check.
Yesterday, I was in an airport, buying some water minutes before boarding with some people that had no idea about how to queue effectively. My first reaction was annoyance, but I created an on-the-fly mantra that helped me to become tolerant: “I am not the boss of the world.”
Although it isn’t easy when we’ve got our own pressing agenda to meet, sometimes it’s best to let chaos and other ways of being reign without judgement. I know I don’t want someone throwing hate-bombs at me when I’m confused or make a mistake.