Spiritual Perspectives: Service through "Self Interest(s)"

The hosts delve into the theme of "self-interest(s)", from the spiritual perspective utilizing current news stories.  They explore how "self interest(s)" are a necessary component of personal well-being and growth.  They offer solutions on how to be in that flow of service to others, while still being loyal to one's own mission.  They discuss the concepts of self interest that can lead to a source of conflict in personal relationships as well as society.  Examples of how "Win-Win-Win" scenarios so that everyone's self interest can be achieved.  Keys shared include:

• Self-interest is neutral.
• Understanding one's self-interest is crucial for personal balance.
• Concepts from outer influences can cloud our perceptions of self-interest.
• Self-interest is essential for effective service to others.
• Recognizing the difference between healthy self-interest and greed.
• Staying relaxed helps in discerning self-interest in interactions.
• Clarity about self-interest leads to better decision-making.
• Manipulation can be a part of societal dynamics, but discernment is key.
• Awareness of your true feelings awareness is vital.
• True self-interest aligns with your purpose and leads to positive outcomes.

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Enjoy the first chapter of The Soul Quake Survival Guide here!

Chapters

• 0:00 Understanding Self-Interest
• 3:41 The Balance of Self-Interest in Society
• 6:36 Self-Interest in Global Politics
• 9:54 Personal Experiences with Self-Interest
• 12:48 Navigating Manipulation in Relationships
• 15:36 The Importance of Clarity in Self-Interest
• 18:49 Applying Self-Interest in Daily Life

Transcript

TNT SpiritWorks (00:02)
All right, shall we hop in? I've got a new great themes for us that will fall into stories and so forth. think today I'm going to start out with actually a theme that I'm going to highlight and the highlight is self-interest, self-interest. So what is this for the what is this for the listeners? What's that?

Well, I think that there's there's things going on in the environment and it just is highlighting to me the energy of self interest and the balance and out of balance part of that. And what part of that is for us, right? That's right. Okay. How we're to work on it daily. What stands out to you when I say self interest? Well, right away, my thoughts were along the lines of, you know, there's times when I'm

probably a little confused about what's in my self interest, what's in the interests of others. And how do I have a nowhere I begin and end with that? Because when I listen to the outer, I don't know. It's, ⁓ I admit that in certain situations, say business or it, well, dealing with people, ⁓ my, come against my programming, which puts me ill at ease. I'm not at ease with my self interests.

That's so I think today we're going to probably clarify how to know when a person's in balance when I'm in balance with that. Yeah. Yeah. For myself, self-interest is all about and what I see a lot out in the world and even when the news stories is how much of an influence is the outer to my own self-interest. Yeah. And how much do I allow that to influence how I move throughout my day, who I'm working with, who I'm around, how

how my attitude is affected. So I'm interested to see and hear the story you came up with this week and how that's going to be, you know, moving into understanding more about the self interests. Yeah. And, and before we pop into that, really have to clarify just following on what you're saying, Tom, it's, and you told us is that self interest is a neutral thing. It's, can be portrayed as a negative thing, like all of your self interest.

But, you know, if I don't have my self interest, it's kind of like saying, if I don't have my loyalty to self, what am I working off of? And to me, it always comes back down to that, that, uh, stories that we tell about, well, when you're on an airplane and in case of an emergency, put on your own mask first. Right. And so then you can help others. So I think for me, the major point.

is recognizing that I need to have some self interest. Otherwise, I'm not really operating well, and I'm not going to be able to balance anything else out there, because I don't know where I begin and end. And that's the positive, you could say balanced or positive part of it that that stands out to me. Absolutely. And what comes to me as soon as say that is that most people, just like in the spiritual realm, a lot of people talk about what's my purpose, right?

And most people have no freaking idea what their purpose in life is. Even though I believe we're always on our purpose. We're never off our purpose. We may have a little diversions or switch and changes, but we're always on our purpose. So not for a person to not recognize what is their self-interest when they're hearing a story about some horrific thing happening around the world or someone throws something at them when they're coming to work or whatever, then they do not know how to really

work with the energy. right. What strikes me is that even when you mentioned the word self interest, I started to feel uncomfortable. That's exactly where I was going. Yeah, I feel you. So, ⁓ you know, because of the outer conditioning, you know, being selfish and, ⁓ know, we're supposed to sacrifice ourselves. Some people believe, you know, for others. And so I'm looking forward to clarifying that. And then also

How do we see this in the, ⁓ you know, the bigger picture world, like out in society, out in our, in our work, in our family, in our country, ⁓ et cetera, and the world. recognizing when that self interest goes the other direction where it does start becoming that truly greed energy, me first, me second, me third vibe, which is what I think they're talking about. Right. That's the programming.

They're actually talking about that. ⁓ So here's an example, right? We'll use a news story as one of the examples. So one of the examples is ⁓ this week, ⁓ they've got the America and Russia meeting happening where it's Putin and Trump coming together to talk about the Ukraine peace talks. And that's going to happen in Alaska. Hear this in a couple of days.

So one of the big ⁓ things that was out in the story was Europe. Once they're what we, there are security points, like their boundaries there, they want peace for Ukraine and there to have security, but they also want European security. So they're communicating that upfront for the peace talks that are going to happen. And so to me, this is an example.

of that self interest energy where yes, we all want peace. mean, it's, it's just a, the cost of war is never calculable, right? It's just, it's off the charts, but there is also that reality that, well, I need to make sure my own borders are clean and clear. I don't get pulled into something or that I don't need. So they're stating that they're, they're coming out and saying,

Hey, we want peace, but we want our own security set up as well. So that's an example to me that, you know, maybe some of those politicians have a little bit of selfish energy, right? Like they're meaning they're using the peace thing as a smoke screen to make sure that they get what they want. Right. think that's a really good point is being aware of when it's something's being used as a smoke screen, which,

You know, my conditioning, I'm aligned with self-interest right away. So you got, know, yes, that's right. That, that, you know, that fits my concepts. However, how much of it, you know, what feels funny about it is the smoke screen, I suppose. and I'd like to hear your point on this. It's like the fee you ever heard that term new money.

The new money. It's like when someone gets rich right away and then they're like, they're like the worst to hang out with because it's like the money is the thing. Yeah. Rather than it's just a means. Right. So to me, what it stands out to, and I'm not saying to be clear, I'm not saying all the European thing is wrong. I'm not saying that they're all greedy or stuff. I'm just saying, I need to be aware of when that energy smacks of being greed or when it's being positive. Right. But that

To me, I've noticed what people who are very secure and they know where they begin and end and they are clear with their self-interest. It's a much more smooth thing, right? It's like they can be of service because they do know where they begin and end. They don't get involved in things that will stretch them out too far. They do get involved in things that will be of positive value to them and what whoever they're working with. So that's the thing that stands out.

Yeah, so what all this comes from my perspective is about energy. Yeah. So I'm around people that I've noticed some things that come out of their mouth and just happened last week. One person said to me, they hate this person because they're so rich. my first thought was, well, aren't you rich too? Maybe you're not monetarily rich, but I mean, if we look at our lives compared to most of the world,

We are freaking rich. I don't care if you don't have a billion dollars, a million dollars, a hundred thousand dollars. We are, we are rich people, but how much of that richness do you feel? That's right. So when someone says to me like the other day, well, I hate that person. There's, they're so rich. I'm like, so what, where is that person at energetically? Yeah. So that's where I go with these stories is that when there's the self interest, cause again, we all have it. Cause we really need to have, you have to write. need to be, have a self interest in what we're.

experiencing what we're going through. But also where is a person at energetically when we hear things like people saying about, they're so rich. It really is for me. It puts it in the perspective of I know where that person is coming from. I know how to work with that person. And this is something with the with the bigger people, too, even though it's sometimes that, you know, thinking about the Ukraine with Trump, Ukraine, Trump and Putin. mean, these are people that most of us are never going to be like this with right in the same room.

So, but how can I relate the stories like that to my life and people that I'm around that are of that feeling in themselves that there may be better than others or their egos are big and okay. So for myself, I recognize again, I know how to work with them and their energies. I can discern that. And that to me is a big key on the clarity that you mentioned, Tom, and recognizing that clarity for yourself. Listers is when you're around certain people, how do you interact with them in that discernment?

I want to make a ⁓ beautiful example for me and Tom, maybe you have one is I was doing an agreement not too long ago with someone and I was like my spiritual helpers, my guidance were really like there for me on this one. And because in the past, I've really let the the issues take over my intellect gets ahead of me rather than that feel, think, act thing.

And I really had a lot of extra backing and I was able to start off when I was thinking about an agreement with someone, start off with what is my interest here, right? Like that, what is my interest here? And by establishing that, by that little inspiration to say, Hey, put that down first, tiger. I established that first. Then it was like, I relaxed.

And then it was very easy for me to actually go, well, hey, I could help you here. I could help you here and here and there because I knew where I began and end. I knew, okay, that part, ⁓ that's for you. And because we don't agree on these, this other part that is part of my interest, that part is just for me, but we can come together on this. Right.

So me allowing myself to just start there, not in a greedy me first, me second, me third thing, just like, okay, what, what do I begin and end? What do I need? What do I want? And then going from there, if I don't have that, I'm already wrestling with the outside and like the store, going back to the story with Europe, making those announcements. It's like, if they don't start there, you know, where are they going to begin and end?

I think the, the, the, the issue is, that, or the using it as a manipulation tool. And that's where I have to be careful that I don't number one, I don't allow myself to get into a push pull situation and I smell it. I think we're to be talking about that later. I discern when someone else is starting to try to put me in a position because of manipulation. Well, you know, and what strikes me is it's kind of back to something we were sharing.

a couple of weeks ago was that I've really got to feel what my interests are and feel what do I need to get out of this situation or what's my part in it, the thing that I need. And the other thought that struck me was I'm going to be working in society and the greater environment and I'm, ⁓ you know, could.

for those folks who work for big companies, there's lots of systems they have in place and those systems sometimes change and morph and so forth and so on. And they can be manipulative. The business world has evolved ⁓ to ⁓ master manipulation level. It's in our industrial world since I was younger and it's become ⁓

increasingly, you know, that way. So it utilizes how I experienced is that it utilizes my concepts or my emotions to, to keep me moving in a certain direction or, you know, I feel indebted somehow, or I have to, you know, set up, you know, it's like the old thing of the simple thing, you know, doing a favor for somebody so they feel indebted to you as a game, as it's a manipulation. Now, in some ways we need

manipulation because some people are begging for it. And if we didn't have some form of working with each other that way, nothing would probably ever get done. And there is, there can be a greater good, you know, kind of a thing. So I'm not judging manipulation, but I know that I feel more comfortable when I'm in situations beyond my control. You know, if I'm just one cog in a company, for example, that has

you know, hundreds of thousands or millions of employees, you know, I, my voice isn't going to be quite as loud as if I'm in a small company with five people. So, ⁓ I have to discern what am I, what do I feel I need to get out of that situation? Then the big key for me is just staying relaxed that I trust what I feel because the environment's going to want to influence. And, ⁓ I could go on and talk.

a bit more about that. let's you have something you'd like to share. that you guys are talking about the feelings. because because that's a lot of our work that we do, right? It's starting with that feeling and then thinking and then acting. So it's like that whole the balance. And for myself, really, and I think back a situation that I've been involved in and a situation that I may have created in my life that other people have recognized what's a self interest of

for them in what I've done. And this also stems back to how does it feel? So for one person that may feel a different way and then like you're saying Tom, with the outer influences, it may feel completely different for someone else. And so recognizing for myself how something feels is the first stop, the first place I go to these days. And I wasn't like this before because before I would have outer influence influencing me all the time.

And that's when I had my, you know, like what a hot energetic mess days, but these days, like you both are saying with the, know, the need to feel it and then also to stay relaxed. That is a big key because staying relaxed with it, then whatever happens with the other person, the other situation, the other, you know, ⁓ thing that I'm involved in, I'm relaxed. So it's going to really influence the other part. And that's what I think I hear you saying about the situation you recently had.

is that the relax that you felt inside really supported, but also with our spiritual helpers, the whole thing that was transpiring. And then it became a win-win-win situation. It becomes positive because I do know where I begin and end. I can support the other person. It's in my interest to be of service and support the other person. Now I really have the backing of my own.

backing, I've got their backing, I've got the bigger picture backing so that that's that, that positivity. And, the last thing I would say for wrap up purposes is the more I'm tuned into my own self interest in a positive way, right? Not a negative thing. Cause that's what you're saying. It's like from the outer, boy, this is just pumped in. Like if you have self interest or even like the word desire,

Well, it's either one way or it's extremes. Always dream one way or another. So people look at it. Exactly. The perspective. So, but if there is that ⁓ solid feeling that I need to make sure I have my self interest is covered here, not in a harsh way, just in a clear way.

It's so much easier to work with the world out there to make agreements, to have that interaction with people, to be of service, to be in the job or not be in the job. I know where I begin and end and I even start attracting the right opportunities and right is probably the harsh word, but a higher opportunity that's in line with what I've come to do because

Let's say I'm a big, huge merger company, right? I'm emerging with different, if I know what the bigger picture is of my self interest, all of a sudden I can discern the motives of other people and I can say, you know, I think I'm going to go with this merger over here rather than this one, because this is more in alignment. It's more positive. It's more, we're all moving forward. You know, that culture over there fits more of what we want to try to accomplish and earn money and.

be of service as opposed to this culture over here is just about earning money and it's screw the little guy or whatever it is. Right. So it's like I can have my cake and eat it too, but I have to have that discernment that I have to know where I begin and end and what is the feeling of that. And once I have the feeling now I can tap and say, I've got the feeling is that over there, that same feeling is that a kin, right? Are we family?

there or is this something that I'm not this is heading in a different direction? okay. Well, maybe I need to do a temporary thing, but I know I need to head over here. I know that, you know, as I move through life, you know, concepts that I picked up in my first seven years, you know, will pop in, especially as I'm involved in life. And if somebody I meet, you know, reminds me of my mother or father's vibration or a situation,

You know, I can get re stimulated even though I have a feeling for what, you know, is in my self interests. And, ⁓ it allows me to play the game better, you know, because I'm not expecting I'm going to change every environment I'm in, but I certainly can be positive and influenced it. And at least I stay relaxed. That's my first priority and be of service. So I am in more at the right place at the right time.

Okay, so we hope that you guys out there have gotten some insights for how to work with your self interest in the news stories you might hear out there as well as your day to day interactions with other people, your business, your loved ones. What is your self interest and keeping that key is a really important way to discern about how you move forward in your life. And so until next week, we'll see you again soon. See you later.