How to become unselfish

Doing a daily inventory is a great method to overcome selfishness and become more unselfish.

Think of at least one person that you resent, who you feel betrayed by, who you think has hurt you.

Contemplate about that person (or persons) you feel so negatively about.

Answer the questions below.

Reframing our resentments helps to develop compassion.

These are the questions again, not as a picture:

What has this person done for you?

What have you done for this person?

Have you ever done to this person, or any other person what they did to you?

Have you caused any harms?

When we do this, we come to the realization that we are all human beings doing the best we can with what we have.

Over time, we will become less self-absorbed and more absorbed in the world around us.

Being of service and helping to carry the message to those who still suffer shifts our focus outside of ourselves.

When we practice these principles in all our affairs, we become less miserable, less lonely and feel happier.

As it says in the AA Big Book:

Life will take on new meaning. To watch people recover, to see them help others, to watch loneliness vanish, to see a fellowship grow up about you, to have a host of friends—this is an experience you must not miss. We know you will not want to miss it. Frequent contact with newcomers and with each other is the bright spot of our lives. (89:2)

References 

AA Big Book

Step_4_Four_Absolutes_Inventory

http://forum.wordreference.com/threads/unselfish-selfless.416366/

http://thinkingincommunity.blogspot.com/2010/01/selfless-vs-unselfish.html?m=1

12/7/2020 update: the last 2 references are no longer available

globalchangeteachings.org/index.php/archives/40

au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/usmc/leadership_traits