just a little background info.

okay, before i start rambling about what i believe to be the causes of goodness in the world i think we should look at a few quick terms...


According to merriam-webster's dictionary, selflessness is having no concern for one's self.

this to me is one of the most important aspects of doing good. selflessness. you have more regard for others than you do for yourself. this non-egoistic part of ourselves is not something you can just turn on and off like a light-switch. it is a part of who we are, but knowing how we came to be this way is the real question. what makes some people completely selfless, while others are only concerned with themselves?


another good term to keep in mind is empathy. according to dictionary.com, empathy is the intellectual identification with or vicarious experiencing of the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of another.


so what does this mean? it is basically when you sympathize and relate to the feelings and emotions of another person. you take their thoughts into deep consideration and try to appeal to their experiences. you share whatever is going on with them. their emotions are you emotions, and when you put yourself in their shoes in this way you are not only helping them cope with troubles, but you are now in a better position to help them. you are able to help them rise above their hardships because you have a better understanding of what's going in in their life. and don't confuse empathy with pity. people who pity others feel bad for their situation but end their involvement at that. an empathetic person will attempt to help you overcome whatever is making you feel down.