Usually, the 4th of July is a time for Americans to be proud of our country. We barbecue, shoot off fireworks and talk about how the USA is the greatest nation on earth. As we pass our country’s birthday this year, however, celebrating our country seems false. The coronavirus and racial unrest from the George Floyd murder have dropped the curtain on America. The rest of the world now sees what we have been good at hiding: the American people are selfish.

What Does it Mean to be Selfish?

It probably should not be surprising that we are selfish people. We have privileges and luxuries that very few countries possess. We tend to believe that our freedoms, riches, and power make us better than everyone else. When you are given so much with so little effort you come to believe that you deserve it. We just expect it and take it for granted. When you never have to earn what you are given how can you not become a bit selfish?

Now, don’t get me wrong, we are all selfish to a point. True altruism rarely exists. Looking out for ourselves and our best interests is not necessarily a bad thing. I mean, how can you be good to others if you are not good to yourself first?

Still, there are times when it is important to consider the needs of others. This is especially true when you are in a favorable situation. True selfishness occurs when you have what you need but are still unwilling to give your time, energy, or money to the less fortunate. Unfortunately, recent events have shed some light on our true selfish nature.

Inequality AOK

We are a country of haves and have-nots. To put it bluntly, the haves like having and they don’t want to give it up. So, it is not all that surprising that racism is alive and well in America. Many white people are selfish. They have been given a leg up and they don’t want to lose it. They think that the only way to keep their privileged lives is to beat down the minorities that threaten to take their place.

What we don’t realize, however, is that success is not a zero-sum game. Being generous to people who are not as privileged does not mean you are going to be thrown out of the winner’s club. In fact, the happiness associated with being selfless is much more durable than any joy that comes from being selfish. Think about that for a second. You are going to feel better about yourself for being kind than any advantage gained from kicking someone when they are already down. The moral of the story: love beats hate.

Selfishness = Coronavirus

We have no one else to blame for the latest surge in COVID-19. It is because we are selfish that thousands more people will get sick and die. We want to go out and socialize and take a vacation. Masks are annoying and we want to party with our friends and family. Yes, we know that it might spread the disease but we are healthy, so who cares about those other people?

The irony is that the cure for coronavirus is being unselfish. If everyone wore masks and practiced social distancing we would be in a much better place. Let’s look at Europe. They were in the same boat a couple of months ago and now they have the coronavirus under control. Why? Because they respected each other. They were selfless enough to understand that they were behaving for the general good rather than just to fulfill their wants and desires.

The only way to beat this disease is to acknowledge that we are all in this together. That we may have to give up going to that social event or summer vacation we had planned for six months. You take precautions not only because you don’t want to become ill but also because you want to decrease the risk that other people could get sick. Some bad apples can indeed spoil the bunch. Until we can all learn to work together the country will continue to suffer. Isn’t some short-term pain worth long-term gain?

Being Selfish is Fool’s Gold

Human beings like immediate gratification. Being selfish often provides us with that quick positive result. It becomes reinforcing and we start to believe that only looking out for ourselves is the path toward success and happiness. Regrettably, that is a fleeting outcome. The positive consequences of being selfish quickly die out and we are left with anger, unfulfilled expectations, and resentment.

The solution is to look at the bigger picture. Be generous to those who are struggling. Behave in a way that benefits everyone, not just yourself. What is best for everyone is also better for you. If you don’t believe me try it out. Spend your time and money helping other people. If you can delay personal gratification for a while you will discover a bigger and more meaningful payoff. And isn’t that what we all desire? A happy and purposeful life?