Please do not link self-awareness with selfishness. They have nothing whatsoever to do with each other. Self-awareness is about as far from selfishness as one can get. 

It is a lack of self-awareness that is indeed at the core of selfishness.

SELF-AWARENESS……

• Being aware of how my life — moods, attitudes, motivations, decisions and much more — impacts the lives of those around me. Each of us brings a presence into every environment and into every encounter.

• Being aware that my unresolved relationships, losses, griefs and disappointments are constantly impacting who I am and have the potential to shape my responses to everyone and everything I face. Our history is in our backpacks. For some – it’s snug and comfortable and provides wisdom and healthy boundaries. For the others it’s a jet-pack ready to drive and repeat the mistakes of the past. For most people, it’s somewhere between these two extremes – a bit of both. 

• Being aware that my emotions can flood and distort my thinking and evoke the fighter or flee-er or freemer within me. Remaining present — neither fighting nor running — is usually the most helpful response. There are unusual situations where fleeing is necessary and healthy — but most conflicts cannot be solved by avoidance. 

There are self-aware people who can be very selfish but that’s quite a different story – usually with a tragic ending.