As a personal motivation, research suggests that thinking of others seems to be the most healthy attitude. However, self-care, and keeping our critical wits about us, are also essential, to make sure we don’t get taken advantage of.

As a personal motivation, research suggests that thinking of others seems to be the most healthy attitude. However, self-care, and keeping our critical wits about us, are also essential, to make sure we don’t get taken advantage of.
Even if gentle, we need to stand up for ourselves to be wise.
There will always be more selfish and more selfless behaviour. Selfless people need to learn to manage the selfish ones.
By treating others as special, and being curious about them, we can escape our own selfishness.
Managing our reputation is reasonable. But we can become excessively self-protective, and fall out socially. We can train ourselves into better habits.
We don’t have to be grand in our giving. Even small acts of kindness can have great consequences.