Life transformation: selfish to selfless

Last night I watched a movie and it has caused me to think about the meaning of human life. Many of our current actions towards others come from past situations. Many people react due to past pain, suffering, and at times even happiness. I always ask myself, “Do I care so much for others that I will give myself up for them?” This is a simple question to ask but not as simple to do. I believe the action of this comes from the conditioning of our hearts. Through the years I have seen many hearts hardened from past experiences. Through this humans have become disconnected.

The movie I watched focused on a man who lived through a painfully tragic situation. He felt responsible for the death of seven people. When you watch the scene of the accident one might say that he was selfish. The definition of selfish is:

concerned excessively or exclusively with oneself : seeking or concentrating on one's own advantage, pleasure, or well-being without regard for other

While driving his car he seemed to be more concerned with the message on his phone then with the safety of his wife or even other possible drivers on the road.

Through this tragic event his life changed and I saw his heart change. It was as if he became a humanitarian:

1. One who is devoted to the promotion of human welfare and the advancement of social reforms; a philanthropist.
2. a person who has the interests of mankind at heart

The story line followed his journey of finding people, good people, to help. He felt as though he took seven lives and because of this he felt like he needed to change seven lives to make things right. He gave up his needs and interests for others. He gave up body parts for others to be well. He once was selfish but then he became selfless:

1. Having no regard to self; unselfish.
2. putting other people's interests before one's own

Through all of his experiences I saw meaningful relationships formed; lives being changed. In his heart he was more concerned with the interests of mankind over anything else. He gave up his life for others.

Relationships are important. People are important. More important than we can even imagine. Imagine if we all lived somewhat like this? Imagine how much of a transformation in this world we would see. Imagine mass amounts of pain turned into joy and happiness. I can see it.

Why aren’t we all humanitarians? People who have the interests of mankind at heart. Instead of being concerned excessively or exclusively with oneself: seeking or concentrating on one's own advantage, pleasure, or well-being without regard for other.

Many times I have heard that it’s great that I am a humanitarian. I think why aren’t we all? Is it really not meant for all people? To me that thought is crazy.

A little while back I was talking to my friend and she told me about a friend of hers who was showing a group of friends his pictures from his military tour of Iraq. He told her she shouldn’t look at a certain picture because she is a humanitarian. The picture was of a soldier holding an Iraqi head, no body attached.

Like I said before: why aren’t all people humanitarians? What will it take to see all people living in a way where they put other people’s interests before their own? Many might say this is impossible. I say, “why?” I say, “It is possible.”

Do you care so much for others that you will give yourself up for them?