Is this notion true? Of course it is. In the minds of most, assumptions can be one of our greatest flaws as humans; it cripples our ability to actively understand and absorb clues in our surroundings and hardens our mindsets into a “my way” school of thought. Yet, I reiterate; is this notion too farfetched? Is it not safe to say that greed and selfishness are the very genesis to the majority of the issues we endure as people? Every day, this egocentric logic enters the lives of individuals as a swirling torrent of dissatisfaction, and often leaves these people swollen with the feelings of resentment and discontent. Let’s apply this to the real world.
Relationships
How many times have we heard divorces and split ups caused by “irreconcilable differences?” Irreconcilable differences…really? That’s just a fancy term for “We didn’t see eye to eye on things, and at this point, we’re over it.” Naturally, when people don’t get what they want out of a relationship, it goes awry. Once awry, avenues that were once closed begin to open up; options such as splitting up, seeing other people, and playing the blame become more appeasing. What’s crazy is that having one person who “needs” more than the other person in that relationship can also cause the aforementioned outcomes. In the midst of the mayhem, people seem to forget the very reasons they entered these relationships: to pursue happiness with a significant individual and to fulfill love in one another. Instead, greed and selfishness leaves us in a broken home; torn by interests of lust and alternate interests. The effort used to make up is now used to break up because one person decided to chase dimes, not realizing they had a treasure right in front of them.
Success
If some is good, more is better – right? Vague, I know; let’s define “some” as “financial attainment.” Replace, re-read, and re-absorb; how does that sound now? Better, I’m sure. Success and money may not buy happiness, but it sure can get you a lot of other things. Knowing this, we have a tendency to let money rule our lives (myself included). We let our titles cloud our vision and forget what our objectives were to begin with. Some people literally crave the royalties that can come having wealth and notoriety; they are willing to go to great lengths to attain what they need [want] and won’t stop until they get it. Here is where our old notions avarice and selfishness come into play. If these people literally crave wealth, what would they not do in order to attain it? Lie? Cheat? Steal? Tolerate those who do? (NYMA pun) Seriously though, we see these kind of things all of the time, and for what reason? Hint: The first line of the blog is the answer.
These are just two of the many possible scenarios in which taking care of “number one” can have the capability of warranting irreprehensible consequences. The beauty in this is that we aware of our actions; we have the ability rectify these adverse situations and potentially prevent them from even happening. Now comes the winter of our discontent, if we continue to hold “more” tantamount to “better”, then this vicious cycle will never end. Avarice will consume us and become to bane of ability to be cohesive – lovingly, professionally, and in all walks of life.
“If we go on the way we have, the fault is our greed and if we are not willing to change, we will disappear from the face of the globe, to be replaced by the insect.”
I think you are forgetting that by only taking care of number one is a good way of never finding that one true love that said number one desires. Only thinking of yourself is not the way people fall in love.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you 100%.
ReplyDeleteI'm not advocating taking care of "number one" is this piece; I'm merely demonstrating the effects it can cause on people by having that mentality. Don't let the title fool you by any means.
I appreciate the feedback. Thank you.