"Living for Others"

Who comes to mind if I ask you to name a few people who live (or have lived) for others?

Mahatma Gandhi? Martin Luther King? Dalai Lama?

What if I told you that the list of people who live for others is quite long? In fact it includes practically every one? You, me, and uncle Joe!

It is a matter of definition.

I am defining “living for others” as aspects of our lives that are driven by our desire to impress others. So, we live in a house much too big for what we need, we drive a car way too ostentatious for our comfort, or attend a cultural event which we have no desire to attend. All this to make sure the others are impressed with our wealth (or fine taste) and sing our praise (we hope).

If we remove those activities, there will be little material impact on the quality of our lives. However, our ego will be hurt---It will not get as much pampering as it is used to.

Everyone lives for others---in different manner or to a different degree. In fact, the only persons who may not be guilty of living for others by my definition would be the people who live for others by the conventional definition…the Gandhis, the Kings and the other saintly people.

I think there is an easy way for figuring out how much of our life we live for the others.

Here is the way:

What would you purchase or do if you could not show it to others or talk about it?

Your truthful answer to the above question will tell you how much of your life you are living for your self. Anything above it is for the others.

May 9, 2009