@Balikis 19 January 2022

Selflessness: Do I have to? **Tons of questions have been asked by people of different ethnicity, colour, beliefs and religion why they have to be selfless, after all it's a believe that 'Humans are greedy by nature'. Then why should they need to be selfless? Why should I be the one to do it, they'll ask?. Before I move on fully to today's article, let's see what selflessness really means.** **Selflessness in my own word means the ability for an individual or a person to put other individual or persons first without having much concern for oneself. It is also the ability of having to give room for others to survive or evolve when you can have it all to yourself.** **Below are some of the reasons people have against selflessness.** Economy.

**It no news that the economy isn't always favourable to people especially those of the lower class. We will see how people will backstab their friends or colleague at work not to get promoted because they want to be there instead. Some will even have it their way in such that they'll refuse to leave a position because it is favourable to them thereby making those who needs to be there after their 4years or 6years of succession not to acquire the position. If you'll ask these people why they won't move to other positions they'll say it is because the position is more favourable to them. But what about others? Haven't you been there for years? Why not let others too have a taste of that position?. Questions will go on and on with still the same obvious answer 'Greed'.** Finance.

**It is an earthly knowledge that money is the root of evil. There are some organizations who will use the money meant to pay funds to their employees for their personal gain or they'll say it been used for the growth of the company. In such cases the employees will grumble as those who spoke out were being sacked with no hope of them being paid if the company move to greater heights. In some cases, money meant to be distributed to the orphanage homes never got there because those in charge of the funds never gave it out or maybe they gave half of it out and still they won't feel any remorse toward their actions.** Life.

**This play a crucial role on every individual. Life is Indeed no bed of roses for anyone, including the rich. Life isn't meant to be simple as it as shown us all a great deal. In the lessons towards the circumstances life as thrown toward us, many are tempted to go astray. In a situation where you saw what belongs to someone but because life as shown you a great deal you claim it as yours. After all you'll say, opportunity comes but once. The sentence opportunity comes but once as led many to their early grave and some, unfortunate at the end of their story. There's a story of man who life as shown a lot , he saw a lady's credit card and returned it to her because of his act of selflessness, the lady helped him with a job in her industry and got him an apartment with a car.** Romance.

**In the case of where two lovers are, it is hard to let go when unforseen circumstances arises. According to the story by** @meitanteikudo **. There was a man named George who loved a lady Mel, they both love and cherish another though Mel was once married but now going through a divorce phase with her husband(John). When she collapsed and black out during a night out with George, he had to rush her to the hospital where the doctor confirmed she had a tumor in her brain and needed to undergo surgery immediately in order to live. When she regained consciousness, she couldn't remember George anymore and only asked for her husband John. Before she undergone the surgery she had a video made of her with George explaining their love life in case she didn't remember. But unfortunately for George, she had amnesia and couldn't remember him but only her husband. George could have shown her the video they made together but instead he deleted it with sorrow filled heart and let go for her to have a fun-filled life with her husband (John).** Why we need to be selfless.

**Selflessness is very hard and easy to do at the same time. It is hard because of our unquenchable needs and wants, we want to be in the best place, wear the best cloth, party hard without thinking of our account balance and so on.** **It is easy because we all have conscience and a beating heart. We can calm ourselves by not giving in to what we want at all times and also teach ourselves to be calmer and loving toward ourselves and others.** What will I gain for being selfless?

**There are tons of unforseen gains attached to being selfless, sometimes it might not come immediately or might not even be done toward us but toward our offsprings. As parents, we can't be everywhere with our sons and daughters, imagine the happiness you'll feel and how your face will glow up if your children came back from school,work or travel one day and hug you tightly with all cheeky smiles, telling you how someone had helped them when they knew who they were because of what you have done to them in the past. Imagine the happiness that will glow into your heart at such gesture. And how your kids will be interested in you telling them how you met that person. You'll see how happy your kids would be as they listen and learn from your story. Now tell me, isn't that a lot of gains?** How can I be selfless? **Like I said earlier, you need to learn and teach your heart , brain and soul to be more loving towards people. In regardless of your position in life, try making people happy.** **Go out and give out to the homeless, prepare a meal to welcome the neighbor next door. Respect people irrespective of their age, work,colour, beliefs or traditions.** **Be kind with your words and don't only motivate people with your words but be the motivation yourself.** **Be the stranger people are fortunate to meet with, friends people are fortunate to dine with and parent other parents are glad their children are close to.** Am I not too old to be selfless? **There's no perfect age to be selfless as it as no given time or age. You can start by learning the act of being selfless like I have mentioned above or any other ways that can improve your selflessness. Don't forget to teach your children also on the act of selflessness and as you teach them the act of kindness, God will continue to guide you all through the journey and I also.** *There's a story I heard of a lady some weeks ago who helped her friend get a job at her place of work , even with the fact that the friend was put in a higher position than her she never minded, after some months later when the director came to know that the lady who they employed was brought over by her friend. They upgraded the lady's position and paid her some money with her allowances doubled.* *Her act of selflessness had not only made her great in life but also attracted her to good people. She could have worked and use the same connection she used to help her friend to the position to help herself. And because the friend had worked well, she was recognized and the lady who brought her in was applauded and upgraded.* **Always note that no one is perfect in this life and we tend to make mistakes but the way we solve it matters and we should learn to solve it with some act of selflessness. I have been teaching myself a lot lately on selflessness and also learning the act of selflessness, the question you should ask yourself is, will you?**. Thanks for reading and stay safe. Photo source: Unsplash Writer: Balikis Date:19 January 2022.