From that viewpoint, the key thing is the sense of universal responsibility, that is, the real source of strength, the real source of happiness. So if we have a genuine sense of universal responsibility as the central motivation and principle, then from that direction our relations with the environment will be well balanced. Enlightened self-interest means that we cannot simply maximize or minimize any one particular aspect or dimension of our lives. We cannot be driven solely by greed, by altruism, or by concern for community. Instead we must pay conscious attention to whether we are adequately meeting our needs as individuals, as members of some larger community or society, and as moral, ethically responsible humans.
Quality of life is a consequence of harmony or balance among the three.
The transformation of human society from one driven by the economics of short-run self interests to one lead by the economics of enlightenment will not happen overnight, and it may not happen without struggle and strife. But none the less, it must happen. The transformation may happen peacefully or may arise out of the turmoil of an economic collapse . It has already begun, although it may take decades to complete. But, each of us can begin the transformation for ourselves whenever we choose.