Indifference to our fellow human beings is the essence of inhumanity.  Unfortunately, however, some people just don't seem to care about others. Instead of performing random acts of kindness, they seem to go around engaging in random acts of indifference and often even cruelty. We can't explain such behavior, but we can be thankful that most people do care about others. In fact, some people seem to find that their greatest source of pleasure comes from making other people happy.                  

         
We don't have to give up our own worldly pleasures or the natural desire to seek self gratification in order to help others.  Only a few devote their entire lives solely to helping others. We can pursue our chosen careers and personal ambitions in life and still be concerned about others.  Climbing the success ladder by trampling on others along the way may be one route to the top, but it is not the only route.  Not all those people who have achieved high degrees of success have followed the ruthless pathway.  It is just not true that "good guys" always finish last. There is not a basic conflict between the goals of being a good person and achieving success as so many claim.  Those whose primary goals are to find happiness and peace of mind will never achieve these goals by traveling the route of ruthless pursuit of self gratification.  It may appear to others that people traveling this road have succeeded, but many such people spend their last years in misery, realizing too late that they have chosen the wrong road to happiness. 

         
For centuries, wise men and women have been pointing out the folly of seeking happiness through status and material wealth.  The problem with this approach is that we never achieve enough status or wealth to be happy no matter how much we get.  We always feel that we will be happy if we can only reach a higher station in life or gain just a few more possessions.  But it doesn't work.  Happiness must come from inside ourselves, and it requires neither high status nor a large accumulation of possessions.  We find happiness when we find meaning in our lives and, for most people, a large portion of that meaning comes from caring about others. 

Almost 2,000 years ago, the Roman emperor and philosopher, Marcus Aurelius, wrote, "Adapt yourself to the environment in which your lot has been cast, and show true love to the fellow-mortals with whom destiny has surrounded you." As old as that advice may be, doesn't it still hold true today? 

Copyright 2014 Allen Smith

TB-92—Posted 06/24/2014

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