Positive Side Of Self Obsession.

POSITIVE SIDE OF SELF OBSESSION

Self-obsession has never been taken kindly. It is taken as the negative side of human behavior. Self-obsessed people are selfish, intolerant, angry, egoistic, and all that. But if we think little dispassionately we will find that self-obsession is not all that bad. It has its positive sides.

Self-obsession is nothing more than self-fulfillment and there is nothing wrong with that. A child wants fulfillment of his needs and is fully content when the needs are fulfilled. The happiness that surfaces on the face of a child after a feed or diaper change can match any true happiness. No one calls this child self-obsessed. As the child grows up he realizes that no one will feed his needs and he alone will have to work for it. He does what he feels is right to fulfilling his needs. Is that wrong?

If I am obsessed with myself it means I value myself as no one else knows me better than I do. If I do not value myself no one will. If I do not feed or dress myself no one will. So why not eat the best and dress the latest? This way I have satisfied my needs and presented myself as my best to the whole world. It is up to the world to make sense. I have made sense to myself. This is the positive side.

If I do not beat my drum no one will. So why not beat it lauder, loudest? If I have a camera and I do not take my selfie and let the whole world know about it why am I carrying the load of that camera? This is the positive side.

You may say I consider myself the world that revolves around me. What difference does it make? If you want to revolve around the world so be it. I am not pulling the rug from under your feet. This is the positive side.

You may say I am selfish. When was the last time you donated your wealth and became a pauper? I am not taking your share. I am just protecting mine. This is the positive side.

You may say I prevail upon others and do not value others' opinions. I never said if you are not with me you are against me. Similarly, if I am not with you it does not mean I am against you. That is the positive side.

If I do not write this piece and show you how brilliant I am at this art of self-expression/self-modulation how would you know me? This is the positive side.

 

Dear Shri Viswa,
That is why I said, self-obsession is not that bad, which means it is bad but it has its positive side too.
In my opinion, pride is not that bad too. If I say I am proud of this or that, it does not mean I am arogant. For example, I am proud of my country or religion, as long as I give similar weight to others to be proud of their country or religion. Similarly, unless one learns to love self, love for others does not develop. It is like feeling happy when one achieves something and that gives the understanding of feeling happy when someone else also archives something. It is like telepathy. We are indebted to many inventors, and winners and want to emulate them and feel equally liked and honored.
The problem arises when we value ourselves more than others. There is no problem as long as we value ourselves.

 

Syamalaji,
Yeah. The line between self-obsession and self-confidence is very thin. I think the bottom line is to love your- self before loving others.