Altruism for Living Better

 I’ve been thinking about altruistic behavior, but the train of thought was veering off in so many different directions that I risked losing my way back; so, I’d like to wrap things up here.

I previously wrote that being conscious of altruism helps one live a better life; when it comes to working as a member of society, there are two specific reasons for this.

The first is that being conscious of altruism doubles the joy of work. The primary purpose of working is, of course,

"to put food on the table."

There is no time for high-minded platitudes. You need money for that, and earning that money is the first source of joy.

However, if you look at society today (and perhaps it was always this way), the joy of work often stops right there. It’s all about whether the pay is good or how much you can earn.

Yet, the very nature of work involves doing something that benefits others. When you meet someone’s needs, they say "thank you" and provide compensation. That joy of hearing "thank you"—that is the second source of joy.

So, by being conscious of altruism, the joy is doubled. It’s a simple, obvious fact. Furthermore, the deeper the gratitude or the more frequently it is expressed, the more work you have effectively accomplished, leading to greater rewards. In other words, the first source of joy—earning money—also increases.

This stands to reason. It might seem like stating the obvious, but I can’t help but feel that in today’s world, people have forgotten such fundamental truths.

Conversely, if you work without the sense that you are helping others—if there is no opportunity to hear people say "thank you"—then the joy of work is cut in half. And the joy of living is halved along with it. Money becomes the sole source of joy. When that happens, a person likely loses their human appeal. A life with money but without charm. And that money probably won't last long, either, since the ultimate source of that income lies in altruistic acts performed through work.

The second reason for being conscious of altruism in order to live a better life—which is related to the points above—is

"to avoid succumbing to vice."

If you forget about altruism and focus solely on making money, it is often quicker and easier to deceive or exploit others. And so, one’s work turns into a "predatory business practice," and one descends into evil. Naturally, since you are causing harm to others, you lose the joy of hearing someone say "thank you." Isn't that a massive loss? You are losing half of life's joy—or perhaps even more than half; that joy might be immense. It could even be significant enough to become your *ikigai*—your reason for living. It might be so vital that the money needed "just to put food on the table" follows naturally. Vital, or rather, powerful. Altruism holds more power than one might expect—enough, in fact, to actually gain sway over others. It's LOVE, almost. Though, I don't think it's right to pursue it with that specific intention in mind.

Ultimately, "descending into evil" leads to ruin. Things go well at first, of course. Because it works initially, short-sighted people jump right in—the type of people who only care about the here and now, or just having fun in the moment.

In contrast, altruism—or goodness—may look like a loss at the start. But great rewards await later on. It’s like sowing seeds in a field; someone once said they come back to you multiplied a hundredfold.

Schools these days don't teach anything about the joy of altruism. Volunteering is certainly one way to practice it, but there are countless opportunities for altruism in everyday life, too. It doesn't have to be anything dramatic like "self-sacrifice." A little kindness or a small, thoughtful gesture is enough.

And so, being mindful of altruism isn't actually for the sake of others; ultimately, it is about living a better life and finding one's own happiness. And they lived happily ever after.

Guided by love and mercy

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