Thanks for a very candid reply. I was hoping you would not be offended by my question.
I think we all struggle with selfishness to various degrees. The ego is strong in the human animal. The only solution I have found is developing a habit of mindfully shifting attention from one's own concerns to the needs of another, which becomes progressively more difficult to do when we feel somehow impinged upon or emotional. A daily meditation practice creates a calmer disposition which is not so easily swayed by emotion, making the task easier.
In terms of developing empathy - have you tried metta meditation? Noticing the feeling one has toward those that naturally evoke feelings of love and caring, e.g., a puppy, and then through practice learning to intentionally generate that feeling toward others. The capacity is always there in the heart chakra, but it might take work to forge the link between the heart and the the body and mind.
I would love to hear others' approaches to working on selfishness and empathy.
I think we all struggle with selfishness to various degrees. The ego is strong in the human animal. The only solution I have found is developing a habit of mindfully shifting attention from one's own concerns to the needs of another, which becomes progressively more difficult to do when we feel somehow impinged upon or emotional. A daily meditation practice creates a calmer disposition which is not so easily swayed by emotion, making the task easier.
In terms of developing empathy - have you tried metta meditation? Noticing the feeling one has toward those that naturally evoke feelings of love and caring, e.g., a puppy, and then through practice learning to intentionally generate that feeling toward others. The capacity is always there in the heart chakra, but it might take work to forge the link between the heart and the the body and mind.
I would love to hear others' approaches to working on selfishness and empathy.