Self Preservation is NOT a Good Thing...

See, there is a difference between self-preserving and self-sustaining. Self-preserving is not the good thing people would like you to think it is-- because preservation is trying to keep something AS IT IS, instead of sustaining, which is feeding and growing it. Preservation is placing it in a museum, where people can look, but not touch. Preservation keeps out the bad things, sure, but also keeps the good things from having effect, too. That is what's known as an entropic system-- your energy and resources are being used up to not go anywhere. Which is why you will find that I tend not to promote self-preservation, but self-sustenance instead. Feeding your spirit, not protecting it. Like a child, it needs to go out and experience, play and get hurt in order to have some fun. Don't lock it up, just give it some protective gear before it goes and competes in the X Games.