There is a popular YouTube celebrity who often makes videos of himself doing charitable or generous things for underprivileged people. The accusation that often gets levied against him is that he’s “just doing these things for clout.” In other words, he’s only doing these good deeds because he can make popular videos about them, increasing his own wealth and status in the process.
Um… good?
People have all sorts of reasons to do the things they do, and not all of them are purely altruistic. In fact, most of them aren’t. But that doesn’t mean that good doesn’t come from those acts.
This goes beyond just charity work in the world, too – it extends to all actions. Maybe you’re trying to work out solely to make it easier for you to pick up singles at the local bar. But in the process, you get healthier and live a longer life where you spend time with your family. It’s okay that your original motivations weren’t so high-minded; good came of it.
Don’t judge others’ motivations too harshly. Don’t judge your own too harshly, either. The world turns on the deeds that get done, not the thoughts that put them there.
The Opportunity Machine 