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Healthy Egoism: The Key to a Better Life and Relationships | Violetta Małek | TEDxUniversity of Lodz
TEDx Talks· 2025-11-11 16:58
Core Argument - The presentation advocates for healthy egoism, distinguishing it from harmful egoism and narcissism, emphasizing self-awareness, boundary setting, and self-care [5][9][17][18] - It highlights the importance of prioritizing one's own needs to effectively support others, using the analogy of putting on an oxygen mask first on an airplane [4] Defining Healthy Egoism - Healthy egoism involves knowing oneself, one's needs, and how to position oneself in various environments [17] - It includes building boundaries and teaching others how to treat you, as people will treat you based on their understanding unless instructed otherwise [18] - Self-care is presented as a right, not a luxury, essential for restoring energy [18] Contrasting with Unhealthy Egoism and Narcissism - Unhealthy egoism is characterized by controlling and manipulating others, seeking constant spotlight, and disregarding the impact of actions on others [5][6] - Another example is being overly focused on career development to the detriment of relationships and personal well-being, leading to others feeling used or dismissed [7] Practical Techniques for Boundary Setting - The "I message" technique is introduced, involving describing the situation, naming the emotion, explaining why it's important, and suggesting a solution, all without accusatory language [20] - Communicating with care and without guilt or apologies for setting boundaries is crucial for success [22] Real-life Examples - Examples include an assistant overwhelmed by requests from other departments [10][11] and a woman stressed by a Saturday morning call from her boss [11][12][13], illustrating the consequences of not setting boundaries - Another example is a woman who comes home with heavy shopping bags and is only asked when dinner will be ready, highlighting the need to teach family members how to treat her [15][16] Benefits of Healthy Egoism - Psychologists suggest that self-focus improves life and career, enhances mental health by reducing depression and anxiety, and increases resilience in office environments [23] - Setting boundaries is presented as an act of love for oneself and others [23]