No matter our differences we’re all human. And as a human we all have the same needs, one of which is social belonging. We can’t exist on our own. We need others for the survival of society and, more importantly, companionship. When trouble arises or disaster strikes it’s astonishing to see how quickly we can drop our differences and come together for a common cause. Whether we know it or not, we all have this sense of duty to others, which is why we can have difficulty putting ourselves first.
But it’s not about ignoring those in need or neglecting a commitment. It’s about learning the boundary between having a choice and feeling an obligation -even to those closest to us. We should never feel obligated to do anything against our will or that conflicts with our beliefs. So when we have the opportunity to choose our actions, we need to make sure it’s for the right reasons.