Today we face a challenge in which the call to care for others is placed above our own spiritual integrity.

Defending the Spiritual Self in a Demanding World

Today we face a challenge in which the call to care for others is placed above our own spiritual integrity. Such an approach requires sacrificing our depth and unique inner world for the well-being of those around us, contradicting our natural need for self-preservation and self-expression. Many modern reflections on this subject suggest that true morality and personal development begin with affirming one’s spiritual self rather than with unconditional self-sacrifice to meet others’ expectations.

This perspective contrasts the narrow idea of selfishness—linked to primitive instincts—with the concept of true egoism, in which protecting and developing our spiritual core forms the foundation of a genuine personality. It is precisely the ability to choose our path freely, relying on our inner strengths, that allows us to creatively realize and grow without losing the invaluable freedom of spirit. The call to completely surrender oneself to others may lead to the loss of that inner source of energy, which is the guarantee of genuine spiritual development.

Thus, one should not underestimate the importance of preserving one’s spiritual self. True personal greatness lies in defending one’s inner value, allowing oneself the freedom to pursue self-realization, and opening new horizons for personal growth.

Why is the pursuit of others’ well-being sometimes perceived as contradictory to natural human instincts, and how does it affect spiritual development?

The pursuit of caring for others is sometimes seen as contradictory to our natural instincts because it requires a person to sacrifice their higher, spiritual side for the sake of another’s happiness. According to one author, “If ‘altruism’ requires a person to sacrifice their spiritual self in the name of someone else’s happiness, then this demand is positively immoral, because my spiritual self holds absolute moral value, whereas another’s happiness may be a beautiful thing but does not possess any moral value” (source: link txt). In other words, the ideal that places another’s well-being above personal spiritual development contradicts the inherent drive for self-preservation and self-expression, which are essential parts of personal growth.

Another source points out that in everyday life, selfishness is associated with lower impulses and the bondage of our empirical nature, whereas a truly moral individual is one who freely asserts their spiritual self. As stated, “To be selfish in this sense means to be a moral person, to be an individual. But in everyday life, selfishness is mainly understood as following one’s lower urges—a slavery to empirical nature... Defending one’s human personality does not mean defending all its varied empirical content...” (source: link txt). This emphasizes that the pursuit of higher spirituality requires liberation from the impulses inherent in our empirical self, a task made difficult when the idea of complete self-sacrifice for others predominates.

Thus, the demand to place another’s welfare above one’s own is perceived as contradictory to human nature because it may hinder the development of a free and creative spirit. According to these reflections, spiritual development is related to the unveiling of inner strength and personal integrity rather than to unconditional submission to others’ expectations. True spiritual dynamism is based on the freedom to choose and self-realize; imposed sacrifice for another can lead to the loss of that inner freedom and, consequently, to a stagnation in spiritual growth.

Supporting citation(s):
“If ‘altruism’ requires a person to sacrifice their spiritual self in the name of someone else’s happiness, then this demand is positively immoral, because my spiritual self holds absolute moral value, whereas another’s happiness, though sometimes beautiful, does not have any moral value.” (source: link txt)

“To be selfish in this sense means to be a moral person, to be an individual. But in everyday life, selfishness is mainly understood as following one’s lower impulses, a slavery to empirical nature... Defending one’s human personality does not mean defending all its varied empirical content...” (source: link txt)