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...
jollyweez
That is very altruistic. It is not easy to love others as much as oneself. I think it is not so much loving ourselves, as it is taking care of ourselves.
I have found, however, that when one really gives to another, which is thought, ideas and listening, they can, (sometimes), become demanding. Very few people ever really receive enough attention from anyone else, including their own loved ones.
On the other hand, one must keep a centred balance so that one's energy is not drained too much. (If you know what I mean.)