Why You Should Try to Be More Selfish

The real danger for most people is not that they ignore others in the name of their own needs, it’s precisely the opposite: that they constantly put aside authentic inner development for the whims of so-called respectable opinion.
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CREDITS

Produced in collaboration with:

Gabriella Marsh
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Title animation produced in collaboration with

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50 Comments

  1. Go4Pro on August 31, 2023 at 11:34 pm

    yeah i think people are selfish enough, you know?



  2. Steve Horn on August 31, 2023 at 11:37 pm

    This video needs taking off the internet…



  3. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX on August 31, 2023 at 11:39 pm

    This video is meh at best. Don’t be a doormat, but you aren’t the only person on Earth. Toss a homeless person a candy bar when nobody is looking. Try not to tell anyone about it. That really is a challenge for anyone. Kindness when others are not looking is extremely fulfilling… but masturbation is cool too LOL



  4. NIZA SIAME HENRY on August 31, 2023 at 11:39 pm

    Intelligent selfishness!



  5. James Perkins on August 31, 2023 at 11:39 pm

    I don’t think much of that is true. It sounds like the justification a parent would give for abandoning their child. It sounds like the justification you would give if you where going to use people.

    Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.
    Philippians 2:3

    No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.
    1 Corinthians 10:24

    Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
    1 Corinthians 13:4-5

    For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
    James 3:16

    A generous person will prosper;
    whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
    Proverbs 11:25

    Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.
    Romans 15:2encouragementneighbor
    Fools find no pleasure in understanding
    but delight in airing their own opinions.
    Proverbs 18:2

    The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.
    Mark 12:31

    Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise.
    1 Corinthians 3:18

    Turn my heart toward your statutes
    and not toward selfish gain.
    Psalm 119:36

    I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
    Galatians 2:20

    Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”
    Mark 8:34

    However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
    Acts 20:24



  6. Brooke on August 31, 2023 at 11:40 pm

    I’m finding that no amount of selflessness will save you the indignities of other people’s mistreatment of you.



  7. Ofelya Qafarova on August 31, 2023 at 11:44 pm

    Everytime people say:"She is very selfish,eqoist.And i would love to change it.But sometimes be selfish is very effective.Examples for our dialy life;You write exam.And your partner can’t write.Because,he doesn’t know something.He cry :"Please,I beg you can help me,please".But i didn’t help he.Because,i must write my test.
    My conscience ached.But,i dont help he.Because,i dont have any time and,i have to write my test.Be selfish isn’t bad sometimes…



  8. Erick Ricardo on August 31, 2023 at 11:44 pm

    That’s very interesting. Like yesterday I was on thursday activities at my work, and some coworker mf was calling me like crazy I never answered the mf, he prolly thought I would drop what I was doing to help him like a trained dog, bear in mind the dude only calls for me when he want something, I never needed but if ever need his help I bet he wouldn’t help. F**ck that mf, nobody will read this I’m just "venting" I guess, f-ing job is kiIIing me.



  9. Annabella Crewe on August 31, 2023 at 11:47 pm

    Good morning ! Wonderfull words about this important matter ! Being more selfish without being selfish is really what matters ! Thank You ! I learn a lot and shall keep on learning untill the Day I die !, 70′ now, love, Annabella in DK💖



  10. apric piro on August 31, 2023 at 11:48 pm

    This advice is like medicine for people with pathological anxiety or depression disorder!!!! and like a poison for all the others



  11. Taylor on August 31, 2023 at 11:53 pm

    Wrong. This world needs less selfishness. Less competition. Less attachment. And More kindness. More sharing.



  12. Mee Yeow on August 31, 2023 at 11:54 pm

    Ahhh. Thank goodness I am so very selfish. ♥️



  13. Ester Hudson on August 31, 2023 at 11:54 pm

    “We settle on golf”.. lmao.😂😂



  14. LGtBT on August 31, 2023 at 11:54 pm

    You’re not telling people to be more self-interested, you’re telling them to be solipsistic.



  15. Diana L on August 31, 2023 at 11:54 pm

    Thinking about this issue for a lot of time, I realized the origin of my depression was in there. Now my life has get better a lot in the last months, I feel I’m growing and moving again towards the things I love and I feel good to me. Thank you to every worker of The school of life. I hope to visit you well, when I travel to London :3 <3



  16. Nocturnal Singularity on August 31, 2023 at 11:55 pm

    Snowflake generation asking for more time off work…😄 🤣
    I’m not even a part of the Snowflake generation and I’ve spent my entire life reflecting on this societal rule. The 40 or typically always more, hour work week. It’s why I work for myself. I get to decide what I do, where when why how, all the things that allow me the freedom of mind to be myself. I work for myself, therefore i think for myself. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t get to relax n do as I please all day every day, but I learned early on in life that everyone around me was just falling for whatever others told them. That my peers identities weren’t their own. They were an amalgulation of who they truly are, and what others told them to be.

    I wasn’t going to allow a corporation, or a coworker a family member / friend make me feel guilty for needing a day off, whether I was sick, or simply didn’t want to do shit that day. I wasn’t going to allow them to try and make me feel crappy for not having that " we are curing cancer" mentality, when in reality we are just stocking shelves. You ever notice that? There’s always those guys out there, who act as if they’re minuscule jobs of the utmost importance. And that if you do not see it their way, then you are the problem, and at the end of the day you might actually feel they are correct. They are not.

    Think about it, we as a species have evolved Beyond waking up at the ass crack of dawn, to work and work and work to survive. Although we have evolved Beyond this, we have still structured our societies in a way that has made it necessary to work and work and work in order to survive.

    I am a firm believer, that we have not evolved at all because of this. Rather, we have just changed one survival situation over to another. What’s the point in all this intelligence, if we are enslaved by pointlessness, and manipulated into believing it’s all for us. Make no mistake, nothing within your work day that you do is for you, it is always for your company’s gain. In all Fairness, these things are how Corporation stay on top. But I mean, even Ronald McDonald House is just so McDonald’s has a large tax write-off LOL and that is the ONLY reason it was started, and those guys make over a million dollars every single day on coffee sale alone!!



  17. Malena Igarzabal on August 31, 2023 at 11:57 pm

    Is it Emma Watson’s voice?



  18. Srini Arivalagan on August 31, 2023 at 11:57 pm

    I always have a great respect for school for life. Every words are meticulously drafted as it is essential to do so. Reading the comments, I really wonder, this video will act as a click bait for those who need more approval to convince on their acts. I think being selfish and selfish enough are worlds apart, and people know that, whenever on a bad deed, they knew what they’ve done. I would never suggest anyone to be selfless, like I don’t suggest anyone to be selfish, have enough that hold you at balance..



  19. амбал Товарищ on August 31, 2023 at 11:58 pm

    I’ve been raised through out my life pleasing my family. Even if I do something within my own interest I would be bombarded with guilt trips and "Where’s mine?" Statements. I’m going to try to escape from being selfless and do things for me. I’m scared of being alone because I really don’t know who I am.



  20. Wouter on September 1, 2023 at 12:00 am

    I didnt realise our western society wasnt individualistic enough😂



  21. John Galt on September 1, 2023 at 12:01 am

    My mom is selfish, she cares only of herself as you advertise, now my brother and I both don’t talk to her. She looks miserable. I don’t see any problem with that



  22. Warren Bradford on September 1, 2023 at 12:03 am

    In other words, we need to think of ourselves more. Avoiding caring what others, especially the media, for doing things we need to do. Just live.



  23. Pika Jew on September 1, 2023 at 12:04 am

    This is just 4 minutes just to tell us that it’s okay to be a narcissist who only cares for themself, good job.



  24. thatgirlaju on September 1, 2023 at 12:05 am

    I lived a completely different life, and I’m still considered (young). I don’t even recognize the person I was when I was doing everything people expected me to do. In the end, everyone I was trying to please, turned their back on me when I actually started living for myself. I’m happier than I have ever been. I still believe in kindness and love, but I believe in living your truth. ♥️



  25. evolve on September 1, 2023 at 12:05 am

    I just want all of you (top 20%) women to suck on my opInIon, without me being a billionaire. I almost made a joke there. Stop being so complicated. 😉 Don’t get offended now. Outside of my control.



  26. La Cornuta on September 1, 2023 at 12:05 am

    It’s really about having healthy boundaries and knowing ourselves better…



  27. Captain Falcon on September 1, 2023 at 12:05 am

    Plenty of people need to skip this video



  28. Bunsenn on September 1, 2023 at 12:06 am

    Being self-oriented is good. But I can’t help but feel like selfishness refers to when someone is too self-absorption, beyond what is reasonable.



  29. Gidinho Tamestorvano on September 1, 2023 at 12:07 am

    3:05 – Achhhh soooooooooo, you mean we should be more like germans are! Alles klar!



  30. websurfer on September 1, 2023 at 12:07 am

    Women need to hear this!



  31. chickenlips on September 1, 2023 at 12:09 am

    Good stuff, but I miss de button’s mellow baritone



  32. Unsettled soul on September 1, 2023 at 12:10 am

    It’s not called as selfishness …after it should called as minding our own business and doing wts needs to be done .. focusing on whts really matter to us..



  33. __ on September 1, 2023 at 12:14 am

    No more pushovers



  34. Buddhaneo Siddhananda on September 1, 2023 at 12:15 am

    Any and all selfishness is a problem for both the individual and society….😁😁



  35. Hugh Janus on September 1, 2023 at 12:16 am

    We must cultivate our own garden. I heard about that idea from a silly little youtube channel not too long ago.



  36. Scaredy-tictac on September 1, 2023 at 12:16 am

    this video hurts because I feel so read



  37. AfroApe xx on September 1, 2023 at 12:16 am

    I’m now 100% sure YouTube reads people’s mind.



  38. Joe Davis on September 1, 2023 at 12:17 am

    OMG. You have hit the target right in the center!



  39. سيبو صالح on September 1, 2023 at 12:18 am

    "we are alive but we hardly exist any longer". wow.



  40. Sigma Alpha on September 1, 2023 at 12:18 am

    Selfish is a gift



  41. Mark Arca on September 1, 2023 at 12:19 am

    "We settle on golf."
    Actually, it is also crochet and gardening.



  42. Lavpreet Singh Sahota on September 1, 2023 at 12:20 am

    I agree with the statement that those who are not focussed on developing themselves or working to get the best out of them are not Selfish enough. But, at the same time, I disagree with your narrow understanding that being Selfish is the way out of it. For, there can be many ethical, moralistic and righteous ways to start doing it. For Example, One can become more lively by introducing Exercise Routine which can bring him Liveliness along with the urge of self-development, which is not based on "benefitting at the cost of others" (Selfishness), but the realization that Realizing one’s full potential is good for not just the person himself but also others around him. There are many such ethical approaches which one can take to develop himself or start doing stuff that is really required to him.

    I’d add, before you counter my statements with the view that working for one’s own benefits is Selfishness and what I gave an example of is an example of being Selfish itself, that you must look up the Definition of Selfishness.



  43. Isadora Og on September 1, 2023 at 12:20 am

    When I was selfish I felt happy and could accomplish things I wanted in life. And made people around me happy. When I stopped, my world fell apart. And everything was out of the control again and I got anxious and hating myself again. But it was worth the test. Now I want to be selfish again hahaha



  44. daniel oviedo on September 1, 2023 at 12:21 am

    This is hitting me so hard, I have neglected me so much on small daily and necessary things, that whenever I have a chance to endulce, I overcorrect and descend into self destructive behaviors



  45. jane patton on September 1, 2023 at 12:22 am

    Q



  46. Arashi Gumdrop on September 1, 2023 at 12:23 am

    Currently a codependent in recovery from lifelong Narcissistic Abuse
    Thanks for this video ☺️



  47. El Greko on September 1, 2023 at 12:25 am

    Prioritise your self first otherwise you’ll be stomped by people. You’ll appear weaker and will be a people pleaser and its hard to change that



  48. SOM on September 1, 2023 at 12:25 am

    This was recommended on my feed in the right time I guess!🥲



  49. Nassim on September 1, 2023 at 12:27 am

    I must say, not caring about others’ opinions is much easier said than done. Every time I say things I actually think or do things I really feel like, people distance themselves from me. And I’m not talking about creepy things, more like opening up about my insecurities, or not drinking and smoking at parties. And it gets very very lonely and eventually you are forced to change yourself to fit into the society.



  50. Kimber Knutson on September 1, 2023 at 12:29 am

    Somehow, I missed this when it was posted 3 months ago
    When I first saw this today, I was surprised, confused and frustrated that I had missed it. Then I watched it and felt grateful and happy that I got to enjoy it for the first time today. The video is, as always, profound, brilliant and so, so, so, so, so, so true. Did I mention how true this is? : ) This recalls Thoreau’s notion that most people live lives of quiet desperation. As this video indicates, the "safety" of doing something that you hate but is predictable causes a slow decay into a numb, emotionally distant madness that others do not notice because most everyone is doing it, too. What a tragic, pathetic waste of life. I am 58 and have done some things I hated for money, but I have also done many different things for money that I loved at the time. My daughter says that I cannot die until I am at least 100, so I still have lots of time to do more things that I love. : ) Thanks again for another truly great post.