Was Martin Luther King Jr. Selfish and Is Anyone Truly Selfless?
From popular selfless people you know like Martin Luther King Jr to Mother Teresa, to the ones you encounter every day, selflessness seems to be the opposite of self-serving behaviour. But is it really the opposite and is anyone truly selfless?
To be selfless means to put the needs of others above your own, whether for a long or short time no matter the size of the need while selfishness is simply putting our needs first even when we can “help” or “share”.
I’m sure you’ve done some selfless acts and self-serving ones too (yes, we all have) but are you sure sacrificing for others still isn’t selfish?
Well, I think ummm….
As humans, we have different needs that involve food, shelter, security, and all those, but we also have a need that makes us selfless to be selfish.
This is the universal human need to “feel good,” especially about ourselves, and doing a selfless act, whether it’s fighting for the rights of others or sharing what you have has been linked to boosting esteem and confidence in oneself.
Also, dopamine, a feel-good chemical your brain releases when you’re eating a tasty meal, shopping, having sex, or doing other pleasurable activities, is triggered when you do something selfless for someone — this is why it seems like “their happiness is your happiness”.
So if their happiness is your happiness and being selfless boosts your esteem and makes you feel like a messiah, then umm, are you thinking what I’m thinking?
Yup! It means even your selflessness fulfills a self-serving need.
Oops!
