-The Right- Tenet 5

5. "People should see you as valuable."

    This means exactly what it seems too; people should see you as valuable, as necessary, an integral component to people's live... Essentially, they should notice if you're missing. This isn't, however, about ego; people should see you as necessary, because you should make yourself necessary. It isn't about amassing prestige or respect, or about expecting reciprocation for your efforts. A portion of every single person's concept of self is tied up in the way that others perceive them, since our consciousnesses aren't isolated; but instead subject to the affects of our environment, and our peers [not everyone is as malleable in this respect as other, obviously.] By doing our best, or failing to do so, we not only reinforce our own internal self image; but the external image of ourselves of any who happen to be observing.

    People have a choice as to how to express themselves obviously, they can choose to act on, or not to act on potential. They can choose to act, to act half-heartedly, or not to act at all. And they have the choice of creative action, destructive action... and anything in-between. Personally, I believe humanity should forge forward; continue to evolve, move towards some sense of unity; if for no other reason than for each individual to aid all of the others in realizing their full potential. You enact your will, constructively, on the outside world; as to reinforce your conception of self, and to express it outwardly for others to see, and form in the portions of their memories that are you.

    Obviously, constructive manifestation of one's self concept isn't the only option... but more often than not the consequences of less altruistic paths can be disastrous. Complete Metaphysical Solipsism in and of itself isn't harmful, but when the “existent mind” ceases to see the others within its illusion as parts of itself; and becomes careless in their care, or worse yet adversarial to them. Nothing but harm comes to both the world outside the self, if in fact it does exist; and the symbols and metaphors that are the world within the Solipsist themselves. If nothing else; wanton negativity, destruction, and painful emotion does great harm to the one who feels them.

    On the converse, destruction itself isn't the enemy either. There are times when its necessary; for defense of the self and others, or the destruction of the old for the erection of the new. It is intention that counts; when one makes themselves useful, they should do what they see as needing to be done. Not only to benefit others, but themselves as well. There is no such thing as a “selfless act”, at least not within “sane” people; however, there are acts which are less selfish, egalitarian, and even perhaps while not “absolutely selfless”, strongly selfless indeed. We are rewarded for our good actions, even if those rewards are nothing else than a sense of satisfaction, and reinforcement of our selves.

    The final thing that most people miss however... is that while helping others, and receiving the help of others does strengthen you. To squander than strength in self obsession often harms the recipient of that boon, while continue to aid others would allow them to continue growing and progressing. We do our best to grow, thrive, and move forward; even “selfless” acts allow us opportunities for self indulgence. The level of interconnectedness that our psyche's have, the level of dependence many of us have on one another; no act, no matter how selfless or selfish really leaves others unaffected... and by proxy, the self unaffected.

Help yourself, help others; help others by helping yourself, and in helping yourself, help those around you. After all, you can't aid others if you render yourself helpless; and if you allow your sense of self, and consequently other's perceptions of you to reach a critical point, you yourself move beyond help.