People fail to understand what Rand's "selfishness" really means. I use the term: "Celfishness" which goes to the very core of Rand's philosophy at the cellular level. Every cell in your body that makes "You" is entirely responsible for it's own survival and once those needs are met...the value is passed on. (oxygen, nutrients etc from the blood stream).
That is the nature of Human beings. Human beings, particularly Conscious ones, have a natural mutuality with others. That mutuality manifests itself through the sharing of abundance.
If one sacrifices one's basic needs or desires necessary for happiness then one will not have the abundance to share, empathize or offer...just like every cell in your body.
The sharing of abundance should rightfully be tempered with Reason when sharing abundance; will it be appreciated, is it a life or death situation, does the other seek a hand up or a hand out...etc, etc.
Psychologist will tell you that if a person is constantly sacrificing their own needs for others, they will become unhappy and resentful... so a balance must be maintained in order to survive otherwise you will physically or emotionally die and there will be no happiness nor any abundance to share.

Abundance and needs are different for everyone beyond the basics. Virtually every conscious human on the planet would share their food and go out of our way to do so if someone should visit at suppertime...I have never seen anyone not do this, we do this without thinking about it, It's Human nature at work here.

One's abundance might be knowledge to be shared, food that can be shared, money, time or comfort; but at some point the one's you share with must learn to attend to their own survival... so the old adage: Give a man a fish and he eats for a day, teach him to fish and he eats for a life time is a basic truth of life and one day they might teach another to fish.

That's how I would school those that would knowingly or unknowingly make you feel this guilt by sharing this knowledge and wisdom.

If that knowledge is heeded, appreciated and passed on then you have every right to silently reflect upon the value you shared. That is called: The Reflection of Values Created and is a personal and internal need we all have.

Ignore the haters. Objectivism is based on rational selfishness, which is not "greed" or being selfish at the expense of others. It's simply making the best decisions for yourself and being proud of your work and your accomplishments. These haters either don't understand Objectivism, or are deliberately trying to undermine it with these attacks. I see them too and it angers me. This is unearned guilt being foisted upon you. Shed it. =]

All those people want to demonstrate their moral superiority to you by giving other people your stuff.

That is the problem I am facing. Ive been told it is wrong to believe in the power of the individual, and that if people can't find a way to do something (i.e. start a buissness), then no one should be forced to help them just because they want it.

I dont know what to say but thank you

I don't know what your Galt Brigade is, but id love to join it. And I must thank you. I cannot make the changes immiediatly, as all things take time. But seeing you, and the others that responded, reminds me I'm not alone.

Their morality is built on a foundation of emotions and irrationality.
Your guilt is imagined just as much as their moral code.
I don't feel guilty at not believing in Santa Clause, the Easter bunny, fairies or unicorns, regardless of whatever shame I "should" feel about rejecting those fairy tales.
I agree they are nice and warm and fuzzy, but they simply do not exist.
They do not feel any shame at extorting my productive life at the point of a gun for their selfish benefit because they are many and have based their group think in the morality of need.
What about the morality of merit?

Hi Faith,
To me the thing critics of objectivism fail to address and conveniently leave out is Ethical .....in ethical self interest.
They speak of selfishness at the expense of another. That is not and will never be done
by a true objectivist simply put because that is unethical. When they say greedy ask them to explain what that means and why is it bad.
Their answer will likely include some type of unethical behavior that they will denounce and attribute to Objectivist .Kindly point out to them the difference. Then ask them if they like sports or music or movies. Ask them if those stars they admire are greedy because they use an agent to get the maximum $ contract. If they don't genuinely discuss those points you should look down on them vs looking up to them. Be proud of your mind and self. Run don't walk from people who don't give you the respect you give them or deserve.
The goal of life is to be happy. Be confident in who you are and what you want. Go for it and everyone else that inhibits you be damned. Become the person people look up to because you are special and loving the life you create. Respectfully , DOB