Does anyone know the word that means to attend to oneself first? I heard it once and forgot it. It is used most often in reference to putting the airplane oxygen mask on yourself before helping others do the same.
I suspect it means, don't criticize others for a fault you yourself possess
I use this metaphor frequently.
@ t=5:28 to t=6:10
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpP0p7fCa_oI use it to express that you can't help other people, if you're incapacitated.
I don't know whether there is one word for that.
How about autosoteria? Or more precisely autoprotosoteria?
Phrases that come to mind are:
Physician heal thyself
Look out for Number One
As long as we're playing around the edges of an answer to the original question, how about 'enlightened self-interest'?
As long as we're playing around the edges of an answer to the original question, how about 'enlightened self-interest'?
That's the converse principle. Enlightened self-interest means, I think, doing right by someone else, because it will actually help you in some way.
If the OP is using the "oxygen mask" analogy in the same way I use it, then this refers to helping (taking care of) yourself, because doing so enables you to help other people.
FF has it exactly right. As a parent, I look at things differently now than I used to. There is no "enlightened self-interest" in being a parent! Some parents seem to miss the obvious, common sense approach to loving and raising their children well. The oxygen mask situation is clear to me, yet it must be explained on airplanes. Other parts of parenting are never explained, and some people don't get a chance to learn them before their kids are badly, even fatally, affected. Here is one example I have seen ad nauseam: A nice family is getting exercise together by going for a bike ride. Kids are all appropriately equipped with helmets, maybe even knee pads, riding ahead of the watchful parents. Mom or Dad has a child seat behind for the baby, who also has a helmet. Great so far, but then checking out Mom and Dad, they have no helmets. So assuming the worst, a crash of some kind, Mom or Dad are killed or injured, but the protected children are okay; until they wander into the road, or other hazardous situation, because no one is there to help them. One would think it's common sense to protect yourself they way you are protecting your children, but the magical thinking "nothing will happen to me" state of mind is all around us.
A heartbreaking example I have heard is that sometimes in famines in certain parts of Africa, parents will feed themselves before their children, and the oldest children first. To our sentimental Western sensibilities that seems selfish and abhorrent, but it is entirely the opposite and necessary for the reasons discussed above. If the youngest child dies of starvation, the parents and other children may live, but if the parent dies, then the children will die anyway.
Both your reply and TwoSleepy's captures the essence of what I mean when I say the term. I suspect it is also what the original poster meant. But I can't think of a word or phrase that defines it. It's perhaps a manifestation of selflessness. Strategic selflessness? Strategic benefaction? Enlightened benefaction?