Do something good for own benefit?

@kindas (44)
China
February 18, 2011 5:28am CST
People always say that if you want to do good things you should never do it for your own benefit. I always try to be good (i.e. Helping other people, doing favors, giving up my seat, etc.), just because i feel the need to be good and to get the feeling of seing anybody else become happy, but i do always have some kind of benifitial reason for my actions. For example if i hold the door open for other people, i often also do it to make myself look better in public or to gain the trust or friendship of someone i know. Even though i did that i never questioned my own way of thinking because i thought that mostly everybody does it, but i am a little bit unsure and would like to know your opinions? (Sorry for bad english but i am not really good in english)
1 person likes this
10 responses
@ptower76 (1616)
• United States
18 Feb 11
Well, people always have reasons for what they do. If doing good to others, it may be for the personal satisfaction that it gives them. I give to charities and to the homeless. Deep down I know its so i won't have problems entering those purly gates after i'm gone. Whatever the motive, if they are good works then one should do it.
1 person likes this
@katie0 (5203)
• Japan
19 Feb 11
It's certainly in my own benefit too. I'm no saint, no Chico Xavier or Madre Tereza, I can't just do something for others but when I'm doing I don't consider my self, I think about the someone else I'm helping. But I'm like this not only cause I think we should be more a gentle people, as earthlings and i want to make the world better, but i also know about how the good and the bad things I've done ALL came back to me :)
• Philippines
19 Feb 11
Hi kindas! You are quite honest and courageous in saying that there are times that you do good for appearances sake or for a felt need (like gaining friendship or trust of another.) This happens, yes, and could be quite common. Though I can't help asking this question: What if one does not need anything from another, then doing good is a useless exercise? But going back, ultimately, when one helps another, the "good" bounces back to the person doing good either in gratification or in some kind of reward. It feels good whenever one extends a good act to another, whether it be a simple act of smiling to another, helping an elder cross the street, picking up a pen that fell...the good bounces back to us. And it feels great. It would even feel greater if it is done with pure intentions. Have a nice day, kindas.
@toyota4k (1208)
• Philippines
19 Feb 11
Good gestures, good manners gives people a good impression on you but there are others who would abuse, especially the bossy ones or the lazy. In the bible a verse states that the lazy have no right at all to eat. In general, doing good to others is to your own benefit. Who knows one day you'll reap a good harvest as fruits of the good deeds you have done for others. It's better to give than to receive so the saying goes. True enough, those who beg are the needy but one who donates isn't broke.
@tiffnkeat (1673)
• Singapore
19 Feb 11
We all like to feel good about ourselves. Who wants to feel lousy. So long as you are not making use of people to their disadvantage, think of the positive side of the action. I won't mind you hold the door for me if it makes you feel good. In fact, it should make the other person feel happy that you feel good too. It's win-win. If you open the door for others and they feel good and you feel grumpy, why open for others in the first place? Unless of course, the door is too heavy to be pushed by the other person. So don't worry, feel good. Just don't feel good while making others feel bad.
@VisonTech (258)
• United States
19 Feb 11
Thats funny because I analyze my own actions all the time, like when your having a discussion with someone and your describing a good meal and how to cook that good meal. Somehow human nature, words the phrasing of the subject to their own benefit and the wording gets flip flopped in the favor of the one describing it, rather than for the one they are talking to.
@cmang83 (285)
• Malaysia
19 Feb 11
May be i will agree this when i was young but not now. I still remember when i worked in my first company, my manager always phyco me by saying that:"if you want to become the best employee, think for company first." I really believe what she said and i will think for company first, then only myself. Now, i will think for myself first then only company. If i can't survive, then how am i going to work for them. And the main thing here is, if you always think for your company first, does your company will think for you first when you have problem. Same thing here. I will think for myself first. Not mean i am selfish. If the situation is not harmful for me then i will help others.
@jhaidro (877)
• Philippines
18 Feb 11
I think that we should continue on doing this beautiful thing for everyone. I used to feel that way too. I do that just to please those who are looking but in the long run, I realized that it is better to do it because you wanted to do it and no other reasons. I think that doing good to somebody you meet a long the way is healthy. For some reasons, it makes me feel better. And when they appreciate what you have done and say thank you is like wow. It is a different kinda high. In a good way of course. And I have proven that the golden rule does really work. I never expected it to be that way that whenever you do good, sooner or later, it will come back to you.
• United States
18 Feb 11
I think that helping others is actually done to benefit yourself whether you think of it or not. I love to help others because it gives me a great feeling of being appreciative and caring. I think we want to feel good and doing things for others is a way of making ourselves feel better.
• United States
19 Feb 11
Whether you do things for appearances, because it makes you feel good, because it's the right thing to do doesn't matter. You helped someone and made their day a little better.