I almost feel guilty for why I help - it makes me feel good...on the ego level, the first layer, the exposed layer. A perfect example, I have just joined the Red Cross as a disaster responder. It is noble for sure and my motivations have been more realized and pure than ever before in my life, but I am so confused as to whether it is wrong to do so knowing that I take some syncopated pleasure in the self reward?
I always enjoy your posts, CT. I read them all, but I actually remain silent (that's me being sarcastic as I'm not very good at that)
Anyways, I wanted to address this point quoted up there. I think it's a win-win, quite honestly. You feel good about yourself, others benefit. Nothing wrong in that!
As long as you don't do crappy things to derive pleasure, I think you are all good.
I have a full docket these days between kid, school, and work But I decided I wanted to use my few free hours a month to volunteer. I admitted to my IC, it was also self-serving, as in, hey, maybe I'll meet a decent guy who is also altruistic, or maybe I would make some new friends in the process of giving back to my community. My IC thought it was a wonderful idea and she said what I said to you. Everyone wins! Let's face it, not many people give back on their own will for purely selfish or selfless reasons. There was a "Friends" episode about that:)
