Individualism  is a current of thought, an attitude, or a social and political system that prioritizes the rights, interests ,  and autonomy of the individual over those of the group, community, or collective.

We live in a society where self-interest and selfishness prevail . However, there are many generous people who care about helping and serving others, sometimes giving up some of their possessions and dedicating a great deal of time and energy.

Individualistic tendencies are common in professional activities : I am only interested in climbing the ladder to satisfy my own ego, to acquire more power, or to demonstrate my personal worth.

It also appears in family life : each family member has their own plan, their own preferences, and is not willing to give in for any reason, even for the good of the family itself.

We often see people around a table, each one checking their phone, not paying attention to the conversations. We are physically together, but personal communication is lacking; each person is preoccupied with their own things without considering others.

If this happens in a marriage, this lack of communication fosters separation, as one spouse ignores the other. It’s easy to see why  this lack of communication is the cause of many separations and family breakups .

This individualistic tendency ignores the fact that  a person develops holistically through a spirit of service and acts of generosity . Individualism leads to exercising individual freedom above the interests of others. Each person decides what is true, good, or evil, without considering objective truth or ethical criteria. This results in an egocentric and selfish attitude.

While a spirit of service brings joy,  egocentrism fosters sadness.  It’s forgotten that this approach fails to satisfy the yearning for happiness, the sense of transcendence in life.

How to overcome selfish individualism?

The most important thing is the education received within the family and the example set by parents . Many behaviors foster generosity within the family: sharing resources or the means necessary for the benefit of the entire family. Engaging in appropriate activities or games, and performing acts of kindness among siblings or with people outside the family, also help.

It’s important to consider the process of personality development and the evolution of personal maturity . After adolescence, individuals acquire more autonomy, and therefore, the decisions they make either help or hinder their growth in generosity.

Individualistic attitudes are often observed in many young people and their parents when choosing academic paths or seeking employment.  Parental demands or permissiveness can either foster or hinder a generous attitude in their children .

It also helps to overcome individualism through social trends, the behavior of those in charge, political action, and  concern and decisions to improve the living conditions of the most disadvantaged .

There is a growing trend that hinders the improvement of generosity; I’m referring to what I’ve called  the  tyranny of emotionalism.  That is, when personal behavior depends solely on feelings and emotions, there is no reflection, no consideration of the consequences of human actions, and it is ignored  that in life, one must take into account the affective dimension of the person, but first and foremost, intelligence and will .

Article published in  To Be Happy