likelihood of infecting other people. (See: wearing a mask is the least you could do.) For me, the next step deeper into universal empathy is to believe that we are all extensions of the same universe, rather than impositions upon it—and thus, we all share the same root. In this view, all of our human consciousnesses are inextricably linked, even though our experiences are different and our lives unfold in radically different ways. Even though of course we will all always believe different theories of the universe, carrying some form of this universal empathy allows us to act both selfishly and with care towards everyone else. We should be able to pursue any paths we want to take. In doing this, we should think that everyone deserves that opportunity. We should be able to spend our time however we desire. In doing this, we should remember that we are not inherently equipped to control the choices of other people in how they spend their time. We should be able to enjoy our time on this earth to the fullest of our capacity. We should not be able to collectively destroy the earth in doing so. As mentioned earlier, I am aware that there are a ton of societal factors which push certain people into positions of power and other people into positions of perpetual discomfort. I am also aware that a mindset change cannot fix that at a macroscopic level, and that an
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infusion of greater empathy into society would also require systemic change. In short, I do not think it is bad to wake up every morning and think that you are capable of everything you have ever wanted. I do not think it is bad to wake up one day and realize that you are unhappy with your circumstances and change them. If that is selfish behavior, I
would say that we should all be selfish every day of our entire lives. However, in caring for ourselves in this way, it is integral to keep in mind that we are still individual components of humanity. Making a better world for ourselves involves making a better world for humans. (For more, I would recommend reading Audre Lorde’s theories of self-care as a radical act.)
