Website design By BotEap.comSelflessness is a winning strategy when you dedicate yourself to a worthwhile cause or goal that is bigger than any one individual. Dictionary definitions of selflessness highlight a limited view of this concept with a focus on phrases such as “not caring for oneself” or “putting the needs of others above one’s own.” In practice, selflessness is always a balance between one’s own needs and the needs of others. Virtually none of us can exist completely alone without the help of others. No organization or social entity can exist without a degree of selflessness on the part of its members.

Website design By BotEap.comStephan Curry and Kevin Durant of the NBA champion Golden State Warriors basketball team provide excellent character references to demonstrate the benefits of selfless action. None of these players will go broke, whether they are selfless or not, but their actions speak volumes about the benefits of thinking beyond one’s ego and well-being.

Website design By BotEap.comIn 2017, Curry’s five-year, $201 million contract made him the highest-paid player in NBA history. Simon Cherin-Gordon on the Hoopshabit website mused that “An all-time great player in his own right, Curry’s only skill that surpasses his 3-point shot is his generosity.” Curry’s willingness to go to great lengths to recruit superstar Kevin Durant to join the Warriors speaks volumes. Some sports pundits criticized Curry for being soft on joining forces with another star and giving up some shots to improve his team.

Website design By BotEap.comBut Kevin Durant since joining the Warriors has shown his own brand of selflessness. After the 2017 NBA season, he was eligible for a contract that would have paid $34 million per year, but he agreed to a deal that was $9 million less to give the Warriors the financial resources to recruit and keep talent.

Website design By BotEap.comDurant discussing his relationship with Curry said, “What you hear about Steph sacrificing herself and being selfless and caring about her teammates and other people is real,” Durant said. “It’s not fake. It’s not a front. He doesn’t put on this mask to come in and pretend in front of you guys. It’s amazing to see a superstar who doesn’t care about anything but the group.”

Website design By BotEap.comThe main issue regarding selflessness is the degree to which one acts in accordance with the needs of the group as opposed to the needs of the individuals within the group. The survival of the individual is an imperative. Not being able to meet one’s own needs for basic essentials helps no one. But human beings are social creatures. All social creatures ultimately depend on their group for survival, and thus have a role to play in the group’s ability to meet their needs.

Website design By BotEap.comThe biggest obstacle to practicing selfless action is the idea that selflessness is an all-or-nothing concept. The key to effective selfless action lies in the ability to strike a workable balance between one’s own needs and the needs of others. We should not be limited by terms like “all or nothing” or “always and never” when making decisions regarding selfless actions.

Website design By BotEap.comDetermining whose needs, our own or someone else’s, are being met is highly situational and depends largely on the nature of the need. Needing change for a quarter is not the same as needing a blood transfusion. In addition, the costs to oneself of meeting someone else’s need must be considered in relation to the potential benefits to the other party, as well as the personal consequences of providing the necessary assistance.

Website design By BotEap.comFor many people, the personal satisfaction of helping someone in need is reward enough to make the effort worthwhile. Real selflessness generates actions that benefit others with no expectation that the giver will feel good about helping, or even receiving recognition. Truly selfless giving has no strings attached. It has no need to feel good about ourselves beyond the satisfaction that we are fulfilling our obligations to help our fellow human beings who need the best of our abilities. One day we could be at the “need” end.

Website design By BotEap.comOur relationships with other human beings largely define who we are as individuals. Relationships are based on friendships, family ties, community fellowship, political affiliations, and other social associations. Each individual is part of a larger community. The theme of selflessness becomes one of our roles in advancing causes larger than any one individual.

Website design By BotEap.comTo the extent that we see our selfless help in the larger context of a duty to our fellow man, we can be sure that we are doing our part. All of us are part of communities of individuals with goals and aspirations. The success of any organization depends on the contributions of its members. If members withhold or limit their contribution due to selfish selfishness, the organization as a whole suffers.

Website design By BotEap.comIf you want to consider ways to be more selfless, think about the important relationships you value with other people and groups: your family, friends, work groups, sports teams, any association in which you have a valued membership. Don’t be seduced by “WIIFM” (what’s in it for me!). If you truly value your relationships, you have an obligation to make them as productive and rewarding as possible. Selfless actions are greater than any individual because they benefit causes that are greater than the individual.

Website design By BotEap.comThe selfless actions of Steph Curry and Kevin Durant and their thoughtfulness and devotion to the Golden State Warriors gave them something neither of them could have achieved alone: ​​the 2018 NBA Championship. What I have learned about selflessness is that it is truly a winning strategy.