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Unfortunately, the concept of selfishness is usually portrayed negatively in society, as it is often mistakenly equated in common parlance with ruthlessness, exploitation, and the deliberate violation of others’ interests. This negative connotation arises from the behavior of people who systematically pursue their goals at the expense of others, which can even be viewed as morally reprehensible.

As described in the article on morality, only actions that disadvantage, manipulate, or harm other people in any way are considered immoral. Thus, the natural trait of self-centeredness is broadly disparaged, even though a certain degree of self-interest is physiologically and psychologically necessary. This lends an interesting new perspective to the saying: “If you are at peace with yourself, you can pass love on to others.” Conversely, one can also deduce from this that without self-interest, one might find oneself in an unfavorable, self-sacrificing mindset.

Self-interest is important because it forms the basis for self-care, healthy boundaries, and personal fulfillment—without which long-term willingness to help others and mental health are not possible. Healthy self-interest thus ensures that one prioritizes one’s own needs, which leads to greater self-confidence, authenticity, and ultimately better relationships. Only when you are truly doing well yourself do you have the energy to help others.

Real-life examples of proper, self-interested behavior: cultivating self-love; optimizing one’s own living conditions; making personal provisions for oneself and one’s family; keeping oneself healthy and fit; eating a balanced diet; passing on one’s knowledge to others; acting freely and being free.

When a person sacrifices themselves for others, they do so for self-interested reasons as well, because it is their self-interested will. Nevertheless, it is not right to neglect oneself and one’s own life. Selfishness should therefore never be confused with thoughtlessness. In summary, the following can be said about selfishness:

Necessity for well-being: Self-interest is essential for setting boundaries, being able to say “no,” and not neglecting oneself.

Quality of relationships: Only those who value themselves (self-love) can help others in a sustainable way, without resentment or feeling overwhelmed.

Negative stigma: The negative reputation stems from the fact that selfish behavior is often associated with arrogance, a lack of empathy, and harm to others.

Distinction: There is a clear difference between healthy egoism (self-protection, willingness to compromise) and immoral behavior (exploitation, disregard for others).

Fascinating, in-depth reading on this topic can be found in the works of, for example, Max Stirner (*The Ego and Its Own*) and Arthur Schopenhauer (*The World as Will and Representation*—Part 4).