I remain somewhat ambivalent as to whether we really need to heal ourselves first, before we can help the world.

I think neitchze summed that up very well..
"How can someone who can't save himself, save others?
...Supposing I have the key to your chains, why should your lock and my lock be the same?.."

My 'stepsister'(for want of a better term) worked with mother Theresa for a while, in India - And she was a bitch! (Theresa, not my stepsister).