What's more important: "Doing good" or "Feeling good?"?

Question

A good friend and respected elder in my tribe said "Life is not about being happy...It's about being right."

In light of this statement, what's more important to you: "Doing good" in your life or "Feeling good" about yourself?

I realize that doing good usually makes you feel good, but if you had to choose between the 2 which one do you think is more important?

Answer 1

Doing good far out weighs feeling good. When you do something good It's a natural high. Something as simple as helping an elderly person across the street can lift you emotionally like nothing else, not to mention that you probably restored some faith in that elderly person. Peace Corp workers and volunteers in all fields aren't doing it to feel good, there doing it to help people and that makes a person feel wonderful naturally.. The satisfaction they feel is greater than having something done for them.

Aside from that good things come your way when you do good things. You get what you give, it's a simple rule of life, but very true.

For those of you who think this is a bunch of hogwash. Help a stranger you see having difficulties, if someone drops something pick it up for them. Let someone go ahead of you in the grocery store line if you see they only have a couple of items compared to your piled high shopping cart, if you see a lost dog call the phone number on his ID tag, the owners will be very grateful. You will be amazed at how much better you will feel and how much better life will be..

I can't think of any positives to feeling good instead of doing good.

So, I guess you figured out already I'm a "YEAH" for doing good.

Answer 2

It may be a character flaw but I don't feel guilt. To me it is a very nonconstructive emotion. I know when I have done wrong and vow to not repeat the action, then I won't be destructive or hurtful again. I feel 'clean' spirited most all of the time. Probably the fact that my Mother failed to give me religious training until age 16 is at fault. I have noticed those who have been conditioned per a religious affiliation feel the most guilt. At the same time my Mother taught me empathy, morality, altruism and that cleanliness is perhaps even better than Godliness (spiritually and physically). So it turned out good, I am a partially socialized human and mostly am happy and feeling free is the best thing there is. I don't want to hurt people's feelings and I would appreciate the same courtesy from them!

Answer 3

Feeling good is directly proportional to doing good. The more good things you do, the happier you feel. There are ways to feeling good which are independent of doing good, like robbing a bank and feeling good that you have some ready cash, or downing a bottle of alcohol and feeling good, but generally that's a type of situation when you don't feel good at all. That happiness is just a lie because soon you run out of the stolen cash or you wake up in the morning miserable again. So if you know when you've actually done something pretty good, like helping a victim of an accident dying on the road or something small like helping a poor kid get a pair of shoes, there's no sense of satisfaction and 'feel good syndrome' comparable. In fact, if you feel down in the dumps later on about not doing anything worthwhile, you can look back to your good deed and think.. 'I've actually done SOMETHING... I've helped so and so.' And, boy, does that make you feel good. And it makes you want to do more worthwhile things to remember.

Great question. I like it. ;)

Answer 4

I guess doing good is more important
you can be on drugs, feeling good all night but doing good is better. You are right doing good makes you feel good.
But all depends on what kind of person you are,
lots of good ppl chose doing good and even risked their lives just to make a point or a tiny change in the world.

Answer 5

The trick is striking a balance. Doing good, I think, wins over feeling good, but everyone needs to feel good. Doing good and neglecting yourself completely is just as bad as being selfish and only worrying about feeling good.

You need to do both to be healthy and happy.

Answer 6

You are right that doing good and feeling good often go hand in hand. If I had to choose between doing what what right, and doing something that felt good, I'd do what was right. If I didn't do what was right I'd feel sh!tty about myself anyway.

Answer 7

Its a no choice situation. You have to do it right to feel good and if you want to feel good after not doing the right thing, there is always that sick acidic metallic crunch in your guts even when you want to smile about it.

Answer 8

Doing good, most definitely.

A lot of the time, doing what you do just to feel good can be harmful to others, and is doing bad.

Answer 9

You answered your own question. Doing good. it makes you feel happy. Although loosers will make you suffer for it alot of times.

Answer 10

I think I would choose to feel good about myself, because people who feel good about themselves are likely to do good. It's those who don't feel good about themselves who lash out at others.