Be Good Selfishly

Why do we have to be good these days? Well, it’s not really about “these days” but about all days. I think we should be good because it makes us better the world around us. Furthermore, I also firmly believe that everything we do is selfish. No matter what you do can be categorized as a selfish act. How can I come to this conclusion? Take for instance a man who wants to make his wife feel like one million dollars. He buys her sweets, buys her clothing, sings in her ear and constantly tells her she is beautiful. This man makes his wife incredibly happy and in turn, her happiness makes HIM happy. He is making her happy to make himself happy because he cares for her and loves her. Take another example of an environmentalist: she goes in to traffic and tells people to stop idling their cars. The cause and affect of less pollution from a turned off car helps the environment (by the way, please turn off your cars if you are in a traffic jam) and makes this individual a happier person. The environmentalist has helped something she holds dear to her heart and in the end she became happy from her actions. She is acting selfishly to protect the environment.

We are all acting selfishly no matter what in any situation. We calculate what is the best route to take and what is the best thing for ourselves at all times. Now here comes the tricky part… Why should a person help the environment or give to charity or workout or do anything that we (should) perceive as a positive action when this person does not gain any rewarding feeling? My answer is that this person should not at all do anything without a reward because it would be a waste of time. I think that the proper way for someone to do good things is to feel good after it is done and if you do not feel good then REWIRE your brain to give yourself rewards when you do a good deed.

I cannot say that I have all the answers on how to rewire yourself to feel good by doing a good deed but I can say this: look at the action and the consequence of your action. Try to think of the good things that come out of your positive actions. Pick up litter! Another piece of garbage gone from the sidewalk is another pockmark that people don’t have to see. You are making their day better by doing a good deed yourself. Another easy example is to be mindful of those around you: stand up if an older person gets on the bus. Give your seat this person and allow them the rest they deserve. Feel good about doing this deed and revel in the fact that the people around you saw this deed and might in turn do you a good deed in return. The process starts with you!

Be good selfishly and reward yourself for your good deeds.

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