Self-Interest

"I want to ~"
Things you want to do.

"Self-interest"

Desires, hopes, expectations

Whether it is for personal gain
or for the benefit of others

isn't what we want to do
actually "self-interest"?

And that is

the driving force of our lives

that sustains us.

Is it even possible
to eliminate one's own desires?

We
live our lives having things we want to do

don't we...

Some might say they are not living
with things they want to do.

Perhaps they are enduring something,
sacrificing something,
or stuck in a situation where they cannot move.

They cannot say they are living doing what they want.
They cannot even hope for what they want to do.

If they lose hope,
the will to live also fades away.

Looking at it this way

"I want to ~" and "self-interest" are "hopes" and "desires"

The driving force of life

Could one not say that?

If one is not living with things they want to do,
even among such people,
surely,
I think there is still a "self-interest" of "I want to ~".

How are they accepting that "self-interest"?

Do they think it is something bad?
Have they given up on it as an unattainable dream?

Are they wanting to obtain it immediately?
Do they have desires that are far-fetched?

Are they unable to know what they truly want to do?

Viewing self-interest as something bad,
forbidding oneself from acting on self-interest,
or denying oneself by feeling unworthy of receiving self-interest,

the meaning will likely change greatly
depending on one's way of thinking about self-interest.

Selfish and altruistic also
have a broad range of interpretations.
Generally,
selfish means trying to pursue only one's own interests.
Altruistic means sacrificing oneself to serve the happiness or interests of others.

Doing things for the sake of others
is also about wanting to make others happy,
and that
leads to one's own joy,

so perhaps benefiting others becomes self-interest.

"Benefiting others as self-interest" is "service," isn't it.

I don't think it's possible to live without having "self-interest"...

Isn't it natural to have "self-interest"?

"Self-serving interest" is,
I think, like "self-actualization".

Personally, I would like to call it self-actualization.

Self-serving interest has a selfish image.
Since self-actualization is about doing things as you wish,
in a sense, it might also be selfish.

However, it doesn't mean you only care about yourself without regard for others.
It's a little different from acting willfully.

Those who do not regard others are likely "selfish and greedy".

Self-serving interest is synonymous with selfishness and greed,
and it doesn't have a very good image, but

I want to affirm the act of self-actualization.

Because self-actualization is a form of self-serving interest.

Perhaps self-serving interest, rather than selfishness and greed,
is necessary for living.

I hope I can affirm that.

I've been thinking about things like that...

~Thoughts rambling on~

Breathing life into a sleeping draft,
I've sent it out into the world.

Today, I ran back and forth across 50 meters many times with the children,
and the dormant cells throughout my body have awakened.

It was a good stimulus for my usual lack of exercise,
feeling the lingering effects all over my body.

It feels pleasant to be immersed in the sensation of having pushed my body to its limits.

However, I wonder if it will turn into pain tomorrow (lol).

Such is this evening.

・・Thank you for reading・・

#note
#self-actualization
#desire
#self-interest
#desire-for-approval
#way-of-thinking
#heart
#facing-oneself
#self-understanding
#essay
#column
#philosophy