Sacred Selfishness: A Guide to Living a Life of Substance

The author, a Jungian therapist, defines two kinds of selfishness: Sickly selfishness is self-serving, power-driven, and imposes its will on others, draining their energy. Sacred selfishness is valuing ourselves enough to develop into "authentic" human beings, who give back vitality and hope to all around us.

While growing up, selfishness was usually defined, for most of us, as the first kind; we were taught to put the needs of others above our own. As a result, we became outward-directed people, cut off from our inner source of energy and vitality. If we have failed, through the years, to develop our own individuality, eventually we may slide into depression and ill health. It is only after becoming whole again that we can help others and truly renew our society.

In the tradition of Scott Peck’s The Road Less Traveled and Thomas Moore’s The Care of the Soul, Bud Harris shows us to value and love ourselves, to think for ourselves, to have lives of our own, and to be able to love others without losing ourselves. This is the path of sacred selfishness.