And, he says that we must follow him and take up the cross. In short, Jesus denounces, rebukes, self help and calls us to lives of self-sacrifice. Jesus tells us that a life of self-sacrifice is the way to have a soul. At this time in the Gospel, Peter and the other disciples probably thought that Jesus was going to restore the political integrity of Israel. This is a self-help notion.
All politicians promise help.
The more conservative politicians promise greater opportunities for self-help. The more liberal politicians just promise more help. So we are to help ourselves as we vote, one way or the other. This is the way human beings think. Peter was a normal human being.