Selfish Altruism

1. People spend their lives in the selfish pursuit of their own happiness

2. Nearly everyone dies unfulfilled in many core ways after a lifetime of searching for fulfillment whilst placating themselves with denial and procrastination that they are or were happy enough or would at least be soon.

3. The happiest people in the world are the most altruistic

4. Though they are ultimately contradictory, both selfishness and altruism are innate and are simultaneously taught and applied in our society. We want them both, we love them both.

5. Selfishness feels nearer, is easier to adopt and often delivers a brand of short term gratification – we hide it on one hand in its negative aspect – but then strive for it in different guises – IE achieving business success, taking pride in a new car or demanding from someone else your expectations out of a relationship.

6. Occasional acts of selflessness can punctuate a selfish life to offer appeasement and balance giving the impression of a well balanced person. IE Altruism can be applied in order to create desired beneficial end results making selflessness a selfish tool.

7. Truly altruistic people are revered, loved and respected. Sometimes rejected by those that can't cope with the contrast they create - but these are the heroes that we look up to in our bibles or history books - never once believing that we could ever be that great or be strong enough to adopt their level of altruistic persona and beliefs.

Perhaps, having read this, your stance on seeking genuine servant-hood is now your primary objective.

Consider your response:

1. You agree with the points above and this has now changed your life. Understanding that the more selfless you are the happier you are, you have now decided to live the rest of your life as a genuine servant to others. Do nothing but good things to all and, purely as a bonus rather than a deliberate agenda, you will be the most fulfilled person that you know. You have found life’s true meaning.

Spike says "go for it!"

2. You disagree with the points above. People who live for their own happiness can easily find it within themselves and their own lives. Those who live as servants to others for no reward are just doormats. They are merely taken advantage of and are fools to believe they can be truly happy. Givers who never take advantage of life for themselves are often low status people with issues who are often poor and/or weak unusual people who seem to hang around with a rather odd group of friends. Giving to charity can still be a good thing, but looking after number 1 has got to everyone's priority. This is a fundamental fact of life.

Spike says "I often feel like this. But I can't accept it".

3. You agree with the points above but you pretend to disagree (both to yourself and others) so that you can appease or suppress a guilty feeling you have deep down. There is something about point 2 above that you do not like, but you stand by it nonetheless.

Spike says "You are in denial and you have every intention of staying there".

4. You agree with the points above. You shrug your shoulders and do nothing about it. Life is just the way it is. Perhaps the points above are just too idealistic. The real world can't work like that.

Spike says "Same problem as point 3 above. Denial comes in many flavours. Opting out is the worst!"