I think there is a bit of a difference between ego and good will.
But they also can be related.
I think the basis for all is natural. As the adage goes, moderation in everything. Too much or too little causes problems. Such as, people not caring
for someone who has too much ego.
The question is, why do we recoil from someone who has too much ego? And why is it a bad personality trait?
Now as far as it goes for taking pride in showing good will, as you know I have stated that I link everything to our cave dwelling ancestors. It would
benefit the whole tribe to show generosity. Nature would need to give a little push for someone to get out of self preservation mode and give to
others.
For outstanding acts of compassion, heroism, and selflessness, there is even a selfish benefit and survival instinct in that too. Even if you die in
the process, it brings yoru family to a higher status, making them more desireable, and gains more resources and a better selection from the gene
pool.
And that maybe the same basic reason for simple good intentions.
I am trying not to jump around on the subject too much, which I can have a bad habit of doing.
Can you act selflessly and not feel pride and ego? Just give without expecting to receive. Without sounding egotistical,
, I have.
But it takes a frame of mind and some training. And to be very spiritual.My personal belief is that you are judged on your actions, your intentions,
and your decisions. To give to someone to only to expect to receive something back from the universe or to feel prideful, diminishes the act.
To put stipulations on the action, expecting that person to pass it on, diminishes the act. To expect any conditions whatsoever, diminishes it. For
example, I often have this discussion with people. Do you give money to beggers? Many peopel don't. Because they feel alcohol or drugs will be bought
with it. My veiwpoint is that it is not my position to judge. it is not my position to decide what that person should do. It is not my position to
believe or discriminate what will be done with that money. Because you don't really know. You don't know if it is going to be that last drug that
kills them, or the meal that saves them. You don't know. Because at that point,t he resposibility is theirs, not yours. Your responsiblity ends when
the money leaves your hand. And it is egotistical, to assume you can change events that has been set in motion.
To feel a little glee at the prospect of helping someone is not a bad thing. If only it is to feel happy for the person the deed is done for. As long
as it stops there, and it is not being done to further your own position in the universe.
And at this point I forgot anything else I was going to say. silly brain.