True self interest

When I care
a great deal for myself
and very little for others
it is only
temporarily satisfying
because
all too quickly
I end up
feeling lonely
and disconnected
from the wellbeing
of the whole

Equally though
when I care
a great deal for others
and too little for myself
it is only
temporarily satisfying
because
I end up
feeling disempowered
and depleted
and less than whole

True self-interest
lies not
in one or the other
but rather both
caring for oneself
and caring for others
but not because
this sounds like
a good idea

Looking from
the sophisticated head
this caring for both
is balanced, logical
and attractive

Looking from
the sophisticated head
is not enough
it is only
temporarily satisfying

It is possible to
venture outside
our comfort zone
venture outside
our automatic response

Look from the heart
Look from the experience
in the heart

True self-interest
is for the benefit of
true self

True self
is the whole
True self is not
just the union
of two separate beings
- myself and other

True self
is myself
as the other

How can suffering exist
in a world
of true self-interest?