Everything we do or don’t do is because we think we’ll feel better.   No matter what we choose, we’re picking the thing we think will make us the happiest—in other words, what will bring us the greatest good.  For Mother Teresa, this may be comforting dying people.  For Mahatma Gandhi, it may be starving himself to help achieve peace.  For a soldier in a battle, it may be dying to save fellow soldiers.  For a thief, it may be stealing a car.  For a murderer, it may be a way to make some money.  Each is always doing what he or she thinks will make him or her happiest.  An observer would judge these acts differently, because some acts are more altruistic than others.  However, all actions are based on the perceived highest self-interest of the doers.  Not even the nicest or holiest person ever can do anything that isn’t “selfish”. 

            That’s critically important to recognize, because you never need to be ashamed of being “selfish.”  No matter what you do, or what you give to charity, or how much volunteer work you do to help others, or even when you hurt others, it’s all because you think that’s what will make you the happiest.  Anyone who claims you are being selfish if you don’t do what they suggest, is being selfish.  So never feel guilty about whatever it is that you want; you’ll only be hurting and confusing yourself. 

 Don’t misunderstand.  Knowing that you do everything for selfish reasons is not an excuse for doing things that might be mean or hurtful to others.  On the contrary, when you know that everyone always does what they consider to be “good,” then it’s clear that the nature of man is good.  Human beings are naturally nice to others, because it’s logical to treat others the way you’d like to be treated.  In that way, society will be better off because of each individual’s actions, and that will ultimately help you.