Mother Teresa, Albert Schweitzer, Mahatma Gandhi .... there are many examples of others we admire because they devoted their lives to helping others. I haven't a clue what there innermost motives were and maybe it is the way they were wired from birth ? I can't discount their example though because I cannot identify with that sort of selflessness.

Years ago I read a book that came highly recommended to distance runners. It is called "The Stress of Life" by Dr. Hans Selye. He was the foremost expert on stress at that time. The last chapter of the book was for the layman. He postulated that the best way to have a life with as little stress as possible with those around you was to generate gratitude in them by altrusitic behaviour on your part.

We are multi faceted creatures. I was grieving after a death in the family and it had to ask myself was I grieving for myself... i.e. for my loss of a loved one or for the loved one ? She was "off the hook" so to speak and let's hope in a better place. The ambiguity of life. Sometimes I don't know what my own motives really are.