Me First
Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.
That's something they teach you in emergency services. The corollary to that is to protect yourself first, so that you can help others. If you enter a scene which is dangerous, you can become a casualty. Now, someone else has to not just save the original patient, but save your dumb ass as well.
Many twelve-step programs preach the same thing. Fix yourself. Put yourself first. Know yourself. Then, you can get on with concentrating on other people.
I guess it's something of a selfish attitude. But it does make sense if you really think about it. Make sure you're ok, you are in a good spot. If you don't, you can never really help other people. In fact, you can often become part of the problem.
Moderation in everything, however. Having a 'me first' attitude can be taken too far. If you don't temper your actions with compassion and wisdom, you will fail as much as anyone. That's best summed up by Balthasar Gracian, in his sixteenth aphorism:
The trick is to not be greedy or selfish. Rather, it is to ensure that you are in a good spot to be of value. More so if others rely on you. If you cannot get yourself on the right track, how can you ever hope to help and support others. Those that rely upon you will fail if you fail.
Sometimes, I think, that means going against the crowd. Sometimes it means making moves that will put you in a better position in the future. If you never get out of the rut you're in, you'll always be there. Obvious I know, but people stay in that rut all too often. It just requires strength at times to make the choices necessary.
That's something they teach you in emergency services. The corollary to that is to protect yourself first, so that you can help others. If you enter a scene which is dangerous, you can become a casualty. Now, someone else has to not just save the original patient, but save your dumb ass as well.
Many twelve-step programs preach the same thing. Fix yourself. Put yourself first. Know yourself. Then, you can get on with concentrating on other people.
I guess it's something of a selfish attitude. But it does make sense if you really think about it. Make sure you're ok, you are in a good spot. If you don't, you can never really help other people. In fact, you can often become part of the problem.
Moderation in everything, however. Having a 'me first' attitude can be taken too far. If you don't temper your actions with compassion and wisdom, you will fail as much as anyone. That's best summed up by Balthasar Gracian, in his sixteenth aphorism:
Knowledge and good intentions together ensure continuance of success. A fine intellect wedded to a wicked will was always an unnatural monster. A wicked will envenoms all excellences: helped by knowledge it only ruins with greater subtlety. ’Tis a miserable superiority that only results in ruin. Knowledge without sense is double folly.
The trick is to not be greedy or selfish. Rather, it is to ensure that you are in a good spot to be of value. More so if others rely on you. If you cannot get yourself on the right track, how can you ever hope to help and support others. Those that rely upon you will fail if you fail.
Sometimes, I think, that means going against the crowd. Sometimes it means making moves that will put you in a better position in the future. If you never get out of the rut you're in, you'll always be there. Obvious I know, but people stay in that rut all too often. It just requires strength at times to make the choices necessary.
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