BY DR. MARGARET PAUL

** This article first appeared in the June / July 2016 issue of Aspire Magazine.

None of us want to be called“ selfish.” We often end up doing things we don’ t want to do to avoid being seen as selfish. In my counseling work with people, I often hear the questions,“ Aren’ t I being selfish if I take care of myself instead of take care of everyone else?” or“ Am I being selfish if I do what I want instead of what someone else wants me to do?”

Many of us were taught that if others are upset with us for our choices, we are somehow responsible for their feelings. We were taught that if we continue to do something that is upsetting to another, we are wrong,