The pain
Oftentimes we experience some things that make us question life, question our existence and the role we are to play in a world that seems to go against us, a world that seems to repel us no matter how difficult we try.
The make-up
At the peak of human choices is our looking out for ourselves, there is love and brotherhood, family and friendship but at the core, it's really about what we want most of the time, our own desires, our lust. When you think real deep about it, doing something for someone else, choosing something that will not benefit us takes lots of effort. The energy and the willpower involved in the thought process and choice making, is such that it seems like it's not our nature.
Of course there are people who find it easier than most, even as much as sacrifice of resources and even life, but how many people are in this group amongst the eight billion people on this planet?
The effects
I have seen brothers fight for personal gain, I have heard some parents going out of their way to make life miserable for their child because of gain, friends betraying friends for benefits. It's everywhere. The law of the jungle is prevalent even though we have come a long way in intelligence and education that people have come to mask themselves pretty well. It's still one man for himself, we come alone (birth) and will leave alone (death).
The joy
But why is it that when you choose to go out of your way to do good, to do well, in spite of the energy and resources it will cost, in spite of going against instincts and the query of others in your environment, there is a joy and peace of sorts that just blooms in your being, it's an unexplainable feeling. It gives you a temporary high, makes you feel superior and if the receiver is grateful for it and smiles, that feeling multiplies and you just can't extricate yourself for a while.
The irony
Which now begs the question, why does going against my instinct and enjoyment give even more joy than if the later were the case? Why does going out of my way once in while to put a smile on someone's face give me so much gratification? Shouldn't it just be about myself all the time? Given the fact that it's one man for himself. I believe even though it's quite ironic, there is a greater joy in giving or blessing or losing for the betterment of others than living for just yourself. We are all products of sacrifice.
The penitself.
