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Selfish Happiness

Whenever human beings set themselves a goal, whether consciously or just emotionally, and this goal is a selfish one, they will often not be able to reach that which they want. Even if they reach it, its effect and the satisfaction it gives will be a fleeting one; it will dry out, become shallow, and eventually dissolve. If you want happiness just for yourself, then you will not become happy. Most likely you will say, “But of course I do not want happiness only for myself. I will be very glad to see my fellow human beings also happy.” But it makes a great difference whether this is just an occasional and rather superficial thought, formed out of a sense of duty, or whether the wish penetrates your whole being. Each one of you can look inside to ascertain how deep the wish really is. For here too you may deceive yourself; here too you can want something with your mind, having already learnt one thing or another, but another part of your personality, which I call the lower self, pulls your emotions into quite a different direction.

This part does not really care for the other person—not emotionally—though in your mind you may indeed wish him or her well—that is, as long as it does not cost you personal sacrifice or any great effort—and this is the crux of the matter. Almost anybody, unless still on a very low level of development, will in theory feel glad when good things happen to another. But even quite developed people, if honest, often detect in themselves some envy, or a slightly malicious joy over the misfortune of others.

- Quote taken from Pathwork Guide Lecture #5 Happiness for Yourself or Happiness as a Link in the Chain of Life