At any given moment we can choose to live as saints. As “not-selves,” with a posture of openness and “giving to” the world.
Or we can live as selves, with a posture of taking and “how does this benefit me?”
One mode of being leads to authentic happiness and fulfillment. One mode leads to being ever-frustrated, empty, and unfulfilled.
It takes work to live as a saint. It is not our natural mode of being. But we do have the choice in each moment.