By a Therapist’s Perspective: Naazi Morad
In my therapy practice, I often hear stories that make me pause and reflect on the question: Where is the humanity in today’s world?
We live in a society that is increasingly fast-paced, competitive, and self-serving. Many people are caught in a rat race, climbing the corporate ladder, chasing material success, and pursuing personal desires at any cost. Some individuals stop at nothing until they get what they want. It doesn’t matter who gets hurt in the process. If they want your position, you might suddenly find yourself unemployed. If they want your partner, they may pursue them without considering the impact of breaking a family, even if the wife is pregnant.
This is not just ambition. This is selfish human nature that is sadly becoming the new normal.
The Disappearance of Humanity in Modern Culture
Humanity is about compassion, empathy, and respect for others. Yet, more and more, we see people operating with a single vision: to take, to win, to consume, to possess.
- Workplaces have become battlegrounds where loyalty and teamwork are replaced with competition and backstabbing.
- Relationships are treated as temporary or transactional, rather than sacred connections that require commitment and care.
- Social circles often operate with rules that feel cold and impersonal — such as needing approval just to visit or connect with someone.
The question is: Is this normal? Or have we simply adjusted to a lack of humanity as if it were acceptable?
The Psychology of Selfishness
From a therapeutic perspective, this rise in selfishness often stems from deeper wounds:
- Fear of scarcity (believing there is not enough success, love, or happiness to go around).
- Insecurity and low self-worth, which drives people to seek validation through achievement or possessions.
- A survival mindset, often shaped by trauma or upbringing, where people learn to put themselves first at all costs.
But when selfishness becomes the cultural standard, humanity suffers.
Why We Must Reclaim Humanity
Selfishness might bring short-term wins, but it creates long-term loneliness, broken families, mistrust, and toxic environments. True success and fulfillment come from balance pursuing personal growth while still honoring the dignity and needs of others.
As a therapist, I believe we need to reclaim humanity in small, consistent ways:
- Choosing kindness over competition.
- Respecting relationships and boundaries.
- Valuing people as human beings, not stepping stones.
- Remembering that empathy is not weakness, it is strength
Final Reflection
The world doesn’t need more people chasing their desires at the expense of others. It needs more humans who practice humanity; people who understand that success without compassion is empty.
Perhaps the better question is not “Where is the humanity?” but rather: “How can I bring humanity back into my daily choices?”
Because change begins with us.
Reflection Questions
- In my daily life, do I prioritize compassion, or do I sometimes put my own desires above others’ needs without realizing it?
- How do I treat people when I’m in competition — at work, in relationships, or in social circles?
- Have I ever justified hurting someone else because I believed my goals were more important?
- When was the last time I chose kindness over ambition? How did it feel?
- What would “bringing more humanity” into my interactions look like for me personally?
- How can I create balance between pursuing my goals and respecting the dignity of others?
- Am I modeling empathy and compassion for those around me, especially my children, friends, or colleagues?
“True strength is not in taking at any cost, but in holding space for others while rising yourself. Humanity is the heartbeat of every meaningful life.”
— Naazi Morad
