Self cherishing - the belief that we are more important than everyone else, is a key concept to understand in Buddhism.
We nearly all do this and, let's be honest, it is both ridiculous and unattractive. How can we be better than other people?
To learn a new approach requires great effort because it means letting go of a central self preservation drive in favour of loving others just as much. Even those you barely know, perhaps even don't know, or don't like.
Funnily enough though, loving others more has it's own rewards and, without asking for it, some of the love you share will be reflected back at you. There will be knock backs and ungrateful or untrusting people, but far better to try I think.
So I'm going to smile more, try to forgive others their foibles (I have my own afterall, which I want everyone else to accept) and see how I go. You never know, in a tiny way I might have some power to make the world better. Worth a try...
