Leave your ego at the door.
Altruism is the belief that the well-being of others is equally, if not more important, than the well-being or survival of the self. Various selfless acts and undertakings such as volunteering or donating blood put the welfare of others first before one’s own.
However, can humans truly be altruistic?
The mechanism for altruism lights up a section of the brain called subgenual anterior cingulate cortex. This area involves our mood and makes us happy. Another section called the ventromedial prefrontal cortex is a crucial section for making empathetic decisions. The “overlap” or linking of these two sections is quite potent and can produce a glow of happiness. MRI scans can measure your generosity; however you can feel when you have a rush of positive feelings. That glow is amazing and what makes you feel like a human that can master love and happiness.
But more often, the real challenge to helping others lay inside our own hearts. We often hoard our energy, time, and money for the last battle that never comes. We are afraid that if we give our all, then we’ll have no face-saving excuse for it not being successful. Possibly we are even nervous about wearing our heart on our sleeve to reveal what we really care about each day.
The notion of human altruism has a long history in philosophical and ethical thought. The fundamental principles of non-injury, karma, and other egoless virtues illustrate we have the capacity for high moral standards. It can be learned and it is innate.
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