I appreciate the perspective. If the self doesn't exist outside of our consciousness, while also being the most important and valued thing, it is quite the par

I appreciate the perspective. If the self doesn't exist outside of our consciousness, while also being the most important and valued thing, it is quite the paradox of independence. Human society has a wide variety of cultural norms around this too. Being banished from the group into the wilderness was a death sentence in recent human history. It kept people in check and helped with survival of the group. Now we have instant access to life's needs and wants to the point where we take each other for granted. Our independent spirit can be a curse if taken too far. It's part of our DNA to need each other. For example a newborn can die if unheld for too long.