Tuesday's Positive Thoughts - Altruism

In a world of plenty, man's struggle is not for survival but for meaning. As shown by the rise in volunteer work worldwide, people want to help other people. Altruists point the way to a new future, where people are not focused on what they can get from others but what they can contribute to their lives.They choose to align their well-being with others - so they are happy when others thrive, sad when others are suffering.They broaden their perspectives in an effort to overcome the artificial categories that break up the complex web of life.

"Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness." Martin Luther King, Jr.

Comments

[Andy]

If I were an altruist, I'd be unable to survive in the jungle which is the world. I've been stupid enough to help a lot of people - family, friends - and never expected anything in return. Yet many of those people only tried to take advantage of my altruistic kindness. Bad experience? Maybe. But I'd rather take good care of Andy first:-) I also hate all those blogs supporting (so to speak) the cause of Haiti as if the owners of the blogs have ever given a single penny for that cause! If I wish to help, I'll do it silently. I don't need anyone to tell me to do so. So, to me altruism is relative and subjective.

[Christina]

I am also very much against the blogs that ask you to donate for a certain cause! Just give me a good reason why I should trust them! What is the Red Cross for then? Are bloggers so selfish as to believe that they are the world's greatest altruists? I help when I can and this is a wonderful feeling.

[Laura]

To me altruism is a state of mind. Great quote!

[Constantinos]

The truth is that most people today are more interested in receiving rather than giving. Considering we live in a soceity dominated by greed and personal interest, altruism tends to be the virtue of the few.

[Stefania]

I may sound pessimistic but I have a feeling that real altruists are a .. species to be extinct.

[Karolina]

I agree that life is too complex sometimes and because of this complexity we tend to be selfish and often greedy. One good way to get rid of this selfishness is to get involved in voluntary work. There is so much suffering in the world today that the smallest contribution to alleviate human suffering can help a lot to improve the quality of life and at the same time it can give us satisfaction and make us better human beings.

[Lakis Ioannou]

The world has known two world wars and in recent years terrorist attacks. They were all the outcome of selfish people. Altruists? They are rare but they do exist and try to make the world a better place to live in! Martin Luther King taught the world a great lesson.