Our religions and our culture have largely taught us to be self-effacing and to put our needs at a far distant second to the needs of others. Women, in particular, were once imbued with this ethic, and in some cultures they still are. Archaic and antiquated notions of "service" which serve a narrow elite only, often at the expense of just about everyone else.
I would characterize this line of thinking as being inappropriate. "Bad timing" if this ethic is continuing now. How can you let your Light shine if that light has been extinguished. Who else is feeding that Light if you aren't? We don't exactly live in an altruistic society, in the main.
In fact, I have heard it said that it is now time to embrace the "virtue of selfishness" and imagine yourself with mirrors around your Being. Some are certainly facing outward. But many more are facing inward so that we can do a full analysis of Who We Are, in the fullest and multi-dimensional sense of that phrase.
Those who stand as Beacons of Light on the hill are well down the road of knowing themselves, a process that admittedly takes an eternity.
But you can not serve others until you serve Yourself first.
I would characterize this line of thinking as being inappropriate. "Bad timing" if this ethic is continuing now. How can you let your Light shine if that light has been extinguished. Who else is feeding that Light if you aren't? We don't exactly live in an altruistic society, in the main.
In fact, I have heard it said that it is now time to embrace the "virtue of selfishness" and imagine yourself with mirrors around your Being. Some are certainly facing outward. But many more are facing inward so that we can do a full analysis of Who We Are, in the fullest and multi-dimensional sense of that phrase.
Those who stand as Beacons of Light on the hill are well down the road of knowing themselves, a process that admittedly takes an eternity.
But you can not serve others until you serve Yourself first.