Are we supposed to be helping ourselves or helping the world?

[anagogy]

A flower provides value to others just by being what it most naturally is. It doesn't have to try to provide that value, it simply has to exist in its joyously best and most authentic self, and its natural unique variety adds to the beauty of creation. Just be yourself, whatever that self is. There is no "shoulds" or "shouldnt's" in the one creation -- that is just propaganda from people with an agenda. Too many people try to be something they aren't in a vain attempt to live up to some idea of they are "supposed" to be. In my opinion, that severely inhibits evolution because it isn't authentic. Simply be what you are, and the experiences that naturally result from that will act as the catalyzing lessons that will evolve your consciousness (every state of evolution is perfect). That equals the honest utilization of experience. To not do that merely dims your energy centers because it would amount to a form of repression of that self which is perfect in the creators eyes.