The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1915-09-02
Selfishness A Bar To Happiness

1t is the boast of certain class of people that
they are enjoying life to it's fullest extent This
often causes us to pause awhile and wonder just
what constitutes the sum total of their happiness,
and we regret to say there is little ground
for it except selfishness.
A selfish person is one who lacks friendly dis
position and knows not the meaning of benevolence
or good will; one who is always thinking of him
SELF has no time to be concerned about Others aud
whose own pleasure or profit is the pivot on which
his existence turns. The pursuit of his hobby,
which benefits one is the source from which he
derives his happiness, and poor half hearted en-
jOyment it certainly is.
An individual nursing selfish ambition and
policy abors after real happiness in vain, especi
ally since we know that happiness is simply help
fulness bubblng over; helpfulness towards others
with whom we come in contact. 1t does not con-
sst so much in outward circumstances and person
al qualification as in the inward feelings, the feel
ings that are born within after the performance
of every noble deed in which participate The sell
fish one we know. is not given to the promotion
of these finer sensjbiIities.
He by continually smothering his true self to
satisfy his selfish cravings, is building on foun-
dation that will not withstand the storms of regret
in later years. Good will towards our fellowmen
is the only foundation upon which to build, truth
that the selfish one overlooks.
The wisdom of past events declares this truth,
and our own observations and experiences confirm
it. Yet how few, how very few are willing to act
upon it! Selfishness to be the complex of all
vices. Witness the actions of one who does not
concern himself with the welfare OF other humans,
and notice wherein he differs from the rest.
He can be true to no one because his love of
self which is predominant excludes all goodness
and perverts all truth He measures happiness
only by money, crude ambition and fabby fame;
not realizing that happiness lies not in material
things.
Proportonately any man can be as great as
the greatest, who serves his fellowmen to his full
lest capacity. To do this is to find real happiness
and to grow, spiritually and mentally and this can
only come to those who are unselfsh The one in
disputable truth in all the world is that the
you do for someone else, the you increase
your own contentment and the stronger your in
dividual influences and character become.
Make unselfshness habit and by so doing be-
come factor in the life of your time. Learn that
selfishness is the enemy of individuals, communi-
ties and of society; that it is not conducive to hui
man contentment, but the cause of all irritation
and the source of all evil.
True happiness is nothing less than
the ability to tighten the burdens of others; MAX
ing progress by seeking better things all the time,
and by being glad you are alive and able to help
others too
Correct your selfish tendencies and resolve to
make this world better place in which to live, at
least during your time for if you allow selfishness
to gain the upper hand of your nature your lot will
undoubtedly be miserable one. --Summary.