Philosopher/Playwright Gabriel Marcel has some great thoughts on how to move beyond self absorption.
1. Become aware of yourself as a person only in relationship to others. (We are conscious of ourselves as persons only because we are in relationship with others)
2. Pop the bubble of illusion that you are the center of the universe. (Everything we are is a gift, the nature of a gift is that they are useful to us only on behalf of others, we exist for others)
3. What makes you a person is not this illusion that you are the center of the universe, but rather, 2 things: you behave as one who assumes responsibility for his or her actions, and  you believe in the existence of others  and permit this belief to influence your actions. (We must assume responsibility of our actions by being honest and not continually explaining our behavior in an effort to influence others to accept the image of us that we want them to have. We must be able to see that others exist apart from our need of them, and allow that to influence the way we treat them.)
4. You were meant to oppose this illusion, of being the center of the universe by giving your self to others. (We must have a greater cause than ourselves).