What motivates a good person?

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People just do good deeds-----because they feel like doing good deeds.

Sometimes, people do good deeds because they genuinely feel like helping someone (or some animal/plant/whatever). They derive "selfish" satisfaction from it. I know I do. I feel better about myself when I do a good deed.

I feel that the "deed," most of the time, supersedes the "motive" for the deed.

I don't feel one should deny one's self the opportunity to perform good deeds just because there is a "selfish" motive behind it.

I remember watching a character analysis video where someone stated their opinion that all selfless acts are paradoxically motivated by selfish reasons. This is something I think about every once in a while. I find it to be an interesting viewpoint to think about.

For instance, I lent someone a pen recently. A rather small act of consideration. I didn't put much thought into it, the person was in need of a pen, so I gave them one. You could argue that my motivations were selfish because in that situation I was in a group project; that person progressing with their work also benefited me since it added to the completion of our work.

I have helped people before for the sole purpose of feeling good. At one point I was feeling down, and I offered advice to someone else regarding their problems because it felt good to help improve something. Working with them and seeing them gradually make progress was satisfying. I sometimes feel a similar satisfaction when I see a business get more customers after I redesigned their branding and helped make them better known.

It's better to help someone than to not help someone.

Obviously, one has to be aware of who one is helping.......

I take it on a case-by-case basis. And I don't tolerate anyone who becomes hostile when all I'm doing is attempting to assist them.

I wouldn't just take in a homeless person, for example.

But I take issue with those who believe one shouldn't help someone because of some "selfish" motive or other.

I wouldn't take in a homeless person for various reasons. Off the top of my head:

1. I don't like having strangers around in my home when I need my privacy.

2. The homeless person might invite some of his/her friends over, some of whom could be of a "criminal" disposition.
They would then know my address, and they might think of ways to take advantage of me.

3. The homeless person could introduce certain types of vermin into my home.

4. I also have to consider the safety of my wife.


Saying this......if I establish some sort of special rapport with a homeless person, all bets are off.

I wish I could help everybody and every thing.

But I have to acknowledge that I cannot.

I'm not an extremely altruistic person. I don't give change out to every homeless person in the street. I do feel for the plight of the homeless, though. I would feel even more for them if I knew how and why they became homeless.

But I would not let the fact that there is a "selfish motive" in helping someone---prevent me from helping someone. That's really my point.