Greater Good Revisited

1877:

Vegans argue that to ignore animal issues is dangerous. In body terms, it’s like ignoring the diagnosis of a deadly illness, carrying on as usual, hoping it will go away. It’s the same with the food we eat, hoping to get away with it, thinking we can breathe in the fullness of consumer atmosphere, without it having any ill effects.

If we want our society to be a strong force for good on the planet, then we have to set personal standards. We have to let our enthusiasm for the greater good move freely with the other great forces of life - altruism and optimism.

Altruism is probably not very much different to optimism, since both combine good intention and a determination to bring about a satisfying outcome. When we set out in the right direction, and it seems to be working well for ourselves and for others, we tend to feel optimistic; perhaps optimism is self-pleasure directed by an altruistic urge to be useful. When it works, it recharges energy, and it feels like experiencing pleasure without the bad after-effects. Being involved with others, for others’ benefit, often results in reciprocation, that is, beneficial mutual exchange.

Optimism shows up like a light. Others can’t help but see it, especially when it’s not showing-off but simply going about our daily business with a positive intent. And that needn’t be anything special, since we can all enjoy being constructive when it might involve some self-discipline. Just as lifeguards love to be on the beach to save lives when people get into difficulties, we all like being useful and needed. Whole relationships can surely find a sound foundation in this same pleasure-service principle.

As we develop new and sometimes not-so-easy-to-install habits, for example in setting up a vegan lifestyle, the main driver is usually optimism; we are looking forward to a better set of habits based on give and take. When we act optimistically, the best habits just fall into place. Maybe, like kids settling in on their first day at school, new habits are a bit shaky at first. But it’s optimism that gets us over the hump, preparing us for the repair-journey ahead. Perhaps we instinctively know that new habits are preparing us for what we’re going to have to get used to.