I Am a Child of the Universe

Altruism versus EGO

I have spent some time lately thinking about the age old question. Is altruism and helping others driven by some payoff we receive internally that gives us a psychological reward?
I am on a journey. I have been for several years. I seek every day to be an enlightened person. Not in some hocus pocus way. My own personal and individual definition of enlightenment would be this:

My Definition of Enlightenment:

Living every moment of every day aware of only the moment I am occupying. The past is not clouding the lens I look through in that moment. The future has not happened yet thus it has no value to me. The only one thing in this world I thus can control is my perception on this moment.

To allow myself to bathe in the light in this moment. To keenly feel that ribbon thin connection that binds us all when I encounter others. To allow the light that resides in me, to have an outwardly focused love that transcends the judgements and prejudices that come from the dark. To recognize that every person, every tree, ever blade of grass is made of stardust like me. To inherently feel that ancient connection that binds us all. ---


I think that it is also important to note that it is a reality that we will encounter dark, toxic people in our life. We should love those people but we must set proper boundaries to fiercely protect our light.
So back to my original question. Is altruism and helping others driven by some payoff we receive internally that gives us a psychological reward?

Here is what I have come to believe. I think it is assumed that when we do a kindness for others that somehow that decision to help was motivated by some internal payoff or reward that we gain from doing so.
I posit that for many perhaps there is a different reason.
I think it ultimately it comes down to this.

Does the kind act/altruism feel good (payoff reward) because of the act of giving?

I think perhaps it is a different mechanism at work. Perhaps the feeling good part of giving or helping others stems from light. Perhaps we feel good because we have allowed light into our souls and it is the light that makes us feel good. When we step into and allow living light of God or the universe envelope us we are this then filled with love and empathy and it’s that connection with another that motivates us to help.

So I say that altruism for many people is a result of being in the light. It's not a psychological payoff but instead a result of us being at our best self because we have allowed ourselves to walk within the light.