I tend to think that we are all (or at least, most of us, maybe not Mother Theresa, the Dali Lama, and some other good souls) egocentric, but just display it different ways.

Even asking questions about the other is a way of trying to please, so that they think well of us. It comes to me me me me me in the end.

I don't think that means that we shouldn't discipline ourselves to be interested in other people and things. In the end. getting out of oneself feels good (at least it does for me).

Worrying too much about only means that I am stuck in "me" once again. I like LMo's strategy of asking questions. I've learned to let silence be when with someone, too. They often fill that silence with the most amazing disclosures. Then I feel so flattered to be trusted . . .

Just my $.02