People Who Hurt People – Part 2
Posted By Aaron Marcelli on October 21, 2010
Selfish People
Whereas in the last post we discussed that prideful people think little of others, selfish people tend to just not think about others at all. Selfishness is different than pride. Where pride is more of a condition that shows itself in a person’s regular behavior, selfishness tends to be more of a bad habit that shows itself on occasion, usually when a particular thing they want (money, attention, speaking time) is up for grabs.
I would also make the argument that many people who are this kind of occasionally selfish are quite unaware that they are so. And when someone speaks up and calls them selfish they jump to their own defense pointing out a list of times and habits that are anything but selfish.
However, when triggered by being cut off in traffic, wronged in public or presented with the object of which they dream, they immediately become the center of the universe. When selfish people are being selfish, they are on a mission to “get theirs.” If this means taking advantage of you, no problem. If it means telling a white lie, that’s ok.
Many times selfishness is an exaggerated way of trying to gain what people think they want or need to be loved or accepted. When our natural, human instinct is to not give them anything, we only make things worse. They don’t need us to teach them a lesson. Perhaps the best we could do is simply show them the acceptance they are striving for. If what they are pushing others to get is not something unrealistic, help them make steps in getting it. People always remember and appreciate those who help their dreams come true.
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