4. Unselfish Thinking Increases Quality of Life
The spirit of generosity created by unselfish
thinking gives people an
appreciation for life and an understanding of its higher values. Seeing those in
need and giving to meet that need puts a lot of things into perspective. It
increases the quality of life of the giver and the receiver. That’s why I believe
that
There is no life as empty as the self-centered life.
There is no life as centered as the self-empty life.
If
you want to improve your world, then focus your attention on helping
others.
5. Unselfish Thinking Makes You Part of SomethingGreater than Yourself
Merck and Company, the global pharmaceutical corporation, has always seen
itself as doing more than just producing products and making a profit. It desires
to serve humanity. In the mid-1980s, the company developed a drug to cure river
blindness, a disease that infects and causes blindness
in millions of people,
particularly in developing countries. While it was a good product,
potential
customers couldn’t afford to buy it. So what did Merck do? It developed the drug
anyway, and in 1987 announced that it would give the medicine free to anyone
who needed it. As of 1998, the company had given more than 250 million tablets
away.
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George W. Merck says, “We try never to forget that medicine is for the people.
It is not for the profits. The profits follow, and if we have remembered that, they
have never failed to appear.” The lesson to be learned? Simple. Instead of trying
to be great, be part of something greater than yourself.