We have been always told from childhood that to think for oneself means we are being selfish. A selfless person's behaviour is in sacrifice. Only when we sacrifice we become selfless and better humans. Is that so. Does sacrifice brings happiness for you. Do you feel good when you sacrifice something you hold very dear for your parents, spouse, family, society as a whole. What is the emotion that you feel when you are forced into doing something which your subconscious is rebelling while the prevalent societal conditions force it on you. Most probably the feeling will be one of these sadness, frustration, desperation, anger or pure hatred towards people/ situations which forced you into this. Though physically you sacrifice your dreams, wealth, dress or anything that is dear to you your mind keeps on rebelling. That rebellion creates more frustrations in life creating more unpleasantness. In short sacrifice neither keeps you happy nor others.
But then how can that be. Sacrifice is the ultimate symbol of selflessness. We are wrong. Sacrificing is not the ultimate symbol of selflessness. Giving is. So what is the difference between sacrificing and giving. The key difference is when we are giving we are happy about it. Remember when you happily gave away your salwar for your cousin to wear, happily helped a friend with her queries during the exam, when you decided to help with household tasks. What was the emotion. It was happiness, fulfillment. You didnt feel anything negative about it. You were happy doing it as nothing was forced on you.
Selflessness lies in these small acts of giving which can bring happiness to you as well as to the person who is receiving it. So next time while doing something if you are feeling any negative emotions please dont proceed with the act. You are sacrificing and you are neither helping others or yourself. Stay back,calm your mind, convince it, make it accept the act and then give so that your act brings smile and postive energy to you as well as others who receive it. If you are unable to convince your mind, be bold enough to confront the situation and proceed the direction in which the mind leads. Voice of our subconscious can never be wrong. Maybe along the path you will discover what you always wanted.
