David McCullough, an English teacher at Wellesley High School in Massachusetts, recently delivered an unusual, even hostile, graduation speech to the Class of 2012. “None of you is special. You are not special. None of you is exceptional.” McCullough continued: “Yes, you've been pampered, doted upon, helmeted, bubble-wrapped.”

McCullough's commencement talk was designed to be a tough-love speech that shook students out of their self-centeredness.

Are you sensing there is too much self-centeredness today? Are you finding less kindness and more rudeness? Why are there so many self-absorbed people today?

For one thing we live in a world dominated by image. You know, the right looks, the right sound, and the right graphics. Andre Agassi, the famous tennis player, once said in an advertisement, “Image is everything.” Is that true? Self-centered people believe this message.

Another reason we see an over-abundance of self-centeredness is that life today is increasingly cutthroat and competitive. Lots of folks believe that if you don't take care of yourself first, you'll get left out or run over.

We parents have contributed to the epidemic of self-centeredness.

We incessantly tell our children they're the best ever. We treat them like royalty, placing them at the center of our household. Our lives end up revolving around our children. When you constantly put a kid on a pedestal, that type of parenting leads to some alarming self-centeredness.

Here's another reason for the vast amount of self-centeredness we see: Reality TV shows, YouTube, Facebook, and the Internet make people instant celebrities. You can upload a homemade video and have thousands of people view it. Post something to Facebook and hundreds of “friends” see your words.

How do you conquer self-centeredness when it raises its ugly head in your life?

First, make an attitude adjustment. Change how you think about yourself and others. We really are not the center of the universe. Each day you and I encounter dozens of people who need our help, our caring, and our encouraging words.

Second, choose to be humble. It's here that the words of Philippians 2 can be helpful. “In humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” (vv.3-4).

Third, recognize that loving other people really does bring great joy to your life. The healthiest people are the ones who love unconditionally. Giving love to others creates within you an amazing joy and happiness in life.

Fourth, show great love in small ways. Be kind to other drivers in heavy traffic. Let someone go ahead of you in the checkout line at the grocery store. Take just 10 minutes to make an encouraging call to a hurting friend.

Fifth, understand what self-centeredness does. You might recall the recent news account of a young Georgia woman who fell from a zip line into a river and caught a flesh-eating bacteria that destroyed her body from inside-out. Self-centeredness destroys you from the inside out.

If everyone made the effort to conquer their tendencies toward self-centeredness, think what could happen. Conflict would disappear. Envy and jealousy would cease to exist. Backstabbing and gossiping would become things of the past. Office politics would become a throwback to a bygone era. The need for litigation and lawsuits would all but vanish.

Jesus' words should challenge us: “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant” (Mark 10:43).