Selfless: Do Some People Only Help Others Because It Makes Them Feel Good?

There are all kinds of things that one can do whilst they are on this planet, and while some things are frowned upon by society, there are other things that are encouraged. For example, one can choose to commit crime, but this will typically lead to a negative outcome.

It could be said that while one is free to do these things, they are not free from the consequences that are likely to arise. Therefore, one can lose the freedom that they have by behaving in ways that result in other people being harmed.

Two Parts

In order for one to take a different path in life, it is going to be important for them to have empathy and to have a functional brain. Through being able to put themselves in another person’s shoes, it can give them a sense of what it would like for their life to be affected in this way.

They will be able to get a sense of how destructive this would be and there will then be no reason for them to behave in such a way. And by having a brain that is working properly, they will be able to think about what might happen if they were to do something.

Another Experience

Yet, if this wasn’t the case, it would be a lot easier for them to cause harm to their fellow human beings. Now, this is not to say that people who commit crime can’t tune into people’s emotional states, as it is not this black and white.

But when they do this, it can be something they have developed to manipulate others, and not something that is just part of their nature. It would then be inaccurate to say that they have the ability to empathise with others.

Its Missing

Another way of looking at it would be to say that they haven’t got a conscience, and this is why their ability to empathise is used in the wrong way. One can then come across as normal, but this is going to be nothing more than facade.

It will simply be a way for them to endear themselves to others, and once they have drawn them in, they will take advantage of them in some way. At that point, it could be too late for someone to do anything about it.

Thinking

And the reason why one can suffer if they can only operate in the present moment and not think about the future is because this will stop them from thinking about what could happen if were to do something. They can be focused on their need to have what they want, as opposed to being able to think about if they are willing to go to prison for having it, for instance.

This kind of behaviour could be put down to the tendency to act impulsively, and this can show that they are unable to control their emotions. What can also play apart here is a sense of naivety, and how they can be so confident in themselves that they believe that they will get away with it.

Possessed

This kind of behaviour could be put down to a lack of intelligence, or to what can happen to someone when they have had a traumatic childhood. When it comes to the latter, their early experiences could have damaged their brain, and this would have stopped them from being able to function like the average person.

Thus, while they are still responsible for their behaviour, it could be said that they are not going to have as much control as someone whose brain has not been damaged in the same way. In fact, it might be better to see them as someone who has very little, if any, self-control.

A Small Percentage

Still, there are going to be plenty of people who don’t live their life this way, and they are likely to have moments when they engage in what society encourages. And one thing that people are encouraged to do is to help others in some way.

This can occur through giving their time and resources to people who can benefit from what they have to offer. One can then help people they know as well as people they don’t know, and so there are no limits to what they can do for others.

Their Own Accord

Even so, this doesn’t mean that everyone needs to be encouraged to do this, as they can do this anyway. The reason for this is that when one helps other people, it can allow them to fulfil their own needs and values.

Through doing something for someone, it can cause them to be approved of, for instance. And if they value making a difference in the world, it will also enable them to meet this value.

The Outcome

What they do is going to have a positive effect on their wellbeing; with their being a strong chance that one will feel good after they have helped someone. The boost that they get by doing this is going to make them want to do more.

Nevertheless, if one is actually helping other people, there is no reason why they should change their behaviour. They are getting something from what they do and so are the people that they help.

Another Outcome

If, on the other hand, one ends up being more concerned with how they feel than actually helping others, they could end up doing more harm than good. When this happens, one can be caught up with what is going on within them and oblivious to the effect their actions are having on others.

One can believe that they are making a difference, but this could be nothing more than an illusion. But unless they are able to take a step back from how they feel and the thoughts that are going through their mind, it is not going to be possible for them to realise this.

For Example

What they do for someone could appear to make a difference, but it could stop them from changing their circumstances. As if one was to walk away and to leave them to it, it could force them to actually change their life.

In addition to this, what they do for others could have a momentary effect and then as time passes; the people they have helped could end up causing harm. This can show that the people they helped were unable to appreciate their support and they might even have seen it as a sign of weakness.

Conclusion

This shows how important it is for one to not allow their feelings to cloud their judgement when it comes to helping others. As just because one can feel as though they are making a difference, it doesn’t mean that this is the case.

At times, helping others can do more damage than not helping others and this is something that needs to be kept in mind. Ultimately, it is important for one to listen to their head as well as their heart.