I think I speak for myself, as well as many others, when I say that learning to be selfish is the best thing a young adult can do. I mean, what is so wrong about putting your own happiness first?
Now, let's not jump to conclusions about what "selfish" means. For some, it can mean "self-centered" and "self-absorbed." For me, it is the shameless idea that you can be independent, confident, and focused on yourself and your life, without the scrutiny and drama of others to hold you back.
Being selfish as a young adult allows you to truly take control of your life. As a college student, this can be scary. It is often easier to just "go with the flow" or "follow the crowd."
For the sake of your own happiness, don't do this. Do not do something you do not have a passion for. Do not surround yourself with people who do not push you to be extraordinary. Do not become complacent with your life. For the love of God, do not settle.
Easier said than done, right?
Wrong.
The idea of happiness entrances us all, and I truly believe a core element of happiness has to do with the idea of being selfish and believing that deep down, we know what we want. However, I think we let our family, friends, and society become a barrier to our happiness much too often.
With that being said, I think we should be a little more, well, selfish of course.
Trust yourself to be independent.
Make moves that you think are right for you and not for the people around you. It's okay to not go out on Friday night every once in a while, but only if you don't want to. The point is, the choice is yours. It is not your best friend's, it is not your sorority sister's, and it is not your teammate's. At the end of the day, the person most likely to have your best interest at stake is you.
Along with independence comes a sense of confidence, the idea that you get to decide what's best for you and you get to feel damn good about it. That's right.
"I'm gonna stay in and watch Netflix and binge eat whatever the hell I want"
or
"I'm going out tonight because I wanna see my girls and pop some bottles."
Either way, the choice is yours.
And the choice is yours to feel confident about.
By trusting your choices and establishing a sense of confidence, you give yourself the opportunity to really focus on you. A clear mind allows for none other than the ability to move forward and achieve what you know you are capable of. As a young adult, especially as a college student, putting your best interests first is not wrong.
I think there is too much of an emphasis on "doing good for others." Because as future nurses, doctors, lawyers, journalists, teachers, counselors, engineers, etc., we have to help ourselves as much as possible so that when we do get the opportunity to really showcase our talent and all that we have learned, we are ready and well prepared.
So, be a little selfish. Focus on improving yourself a little more each day. Prioritize, and realize what makes you happy. In the end, that is all that really matters.
