This blog is a real look at goodness. Is It Doable?
Being a good person is something I often reflect on—sometimes consciously, sometimes not. It shows up in how I think I treat others, how I handle tough situations, and how I care for myself.
But let’s be honest. When I look around at the world, with all the personal struggles, societal conflicts, and global issues around race, wealth, religion, power, and the environment, I sometimes find it hard to see the good in some people or their behaviour.
When I was little, I truly believed everyone was loving and that life was harmonious. That was the sweet, unfiltered view of an innocent six-year-old. These days, I see both sides of the coin. On one side, there are countless acts of love and kindness. People perform what seem like daily miracles: Doctors, paramedics, firefighters, nurses, and everyday folks saving lives, comforting the suffering, and healing others in big and small ways, often without recognition or reward.
Then there’s the other side—the greedy, the corrupt, the fanatical, the violent. The dictators and manipulators. The ones who seem to walk the darker paths of life, sometimes subtly, sometimes overtly.
According
to Abraham Hicks, this polarity exists to serve us and show us a balance. They
call it contrast, the moments when we witness or experience what we don’t want,
which helps us become clearer about what we do want.
Contrast is part of the human journey. It shapes how we think, how we feel, the choices we make, and ultimately how we act. It’s the foundation of growth and change. Abraham Hicks says, “Contrast gives birth to desire.” Each time we face something unpleasant, we form a deeper desire for something better, goodness, meaningful, and more aligned—even if we don’t recognise it right away.
So, what is goodness? Is it about doing the right thing? Being kind? Staying true to yourself? The idea of goodness can be easily misunderstood or dismissed—we’ve all heard the terms “goody two-shoes” or “holier than thou.” But in today’s complex and often chaotic world, the deeper question is: can we live in a way that reflects consistent goodness? And if so, what does that look like?
To explore this, I’ve drawn from both philosophical thinkers and spiritual teachers—voices like T.M. Scanlon, Stephen Appiah, Wayne Dyer, Abraham Hicks, Louise Hay, Charles Fillmore, and Danielle LaPorte. Each one offers unique and powerful insights into what it means to live a good life, from the inside out.
T.M. Scanlon says that being good means acting in ways that others couldn’t reasonably reject. It’s about fairness, empathy, and treating people with respect, not as a means to our end, but as valuable human beings.
Martin O’Neill expands on this by saying that goodness isn’t just about personal conduct; it also involves standing up for justice in the bigger picture—how we shape our communities, systems, and institutions.
Stephen Appiah brings the idea closer to home by showing that being good means showing up in our relationships. Whether it’s a partner, a friend, or a stranger, it’s about being present, supportive, and emotionally real. Not just being “nice,” but being genuine.
Carter Starkey adds another layer: that goodness includes accountability. It’s not just about compassion but also about having the courage to hold ourselves and others responsible, while staying grounded in understanding.
These different voices all point to the same truth: goodness is something we practice in relationship with others and with ourselves. It’s not a trait; it’s a way of being that lives in how we connect, how we listen, and how we show up.
Wayne Dyer believed that goodness begins inside. He taught that our thoughts shape our lives. When we choose to see the world through a lens of love and compassion, everything shifts. One of his most well-known quotes is, “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” He also reminds us that, “How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours.”
Goodness, then, isn’t just about what we do—it’s about how we think and how we respond. Especially in challenging times, it begins with choosing peace and clarity over judgment and fear.
Louise Hay offered similar wisdom, focusing on self-love as the root of all healing. She taught that if we carry negative beliefs about ourselves, it becomes difficult—if not impossible—to genuinely love others. Her affirmation, “I love and approve of myself exactly as I am,” is more than just a phrase. It’s a practice. A doorway into radical self-acceptance. When we stop criticising ourselves and start showing ourselves compassion, it becomes natural to be kinder, patient, and forgiving with everyone else.
Charles Fillmore, co-founder of the Unity movement, believed that divine goodness already lives within each of us. According to Unity teachings, we are expressions of Spirit. That means we’re not just trying to be good; we are inherently good. Our work, then, is to stay in tune with that deeper truth. Fillmore taught that we express our divine nature through love, humility, kindness, and integrity—not because we “should,” but because it flows from who we are.
Danielle LaPorte offers a soulful and raw perspective. For her, being good starts with being authentic. That means being true to our values, our desires, and our boundaries. It means having the courage to live from the heart, to speak our truth, and to let go of who we think we “should” be in favour of who we are. When we live from that place of truth, the goodness we express isn’t forced—it radiates. It becomes magnetic. It changes lives.
So, is goodness doable? I don’t believe it’s about perfection. It’s not about checking off a moral list or trying to win some invisible badge of honour. To me, goodness is about living in a way that feels real, kind, conscious, and connected. It’s about choosing empathy when you could judge. Speaking truth when it would be easier to stay silent. Creating a life that reflects the best of who you are—and that inspires others to do the same.
When we begin with ourselves and stay open-hearted with others, we don’t just do good. We become it.
Bibliography
Appiah,
K.A., 2019. The Ethics of Identity. Princeton University Press.
Dyer, W.,
2004. The Power of Intention. Hay House.
Fillmore,
C., 1919. Social Responsibility. Unity Publications.
Hay, L.,
1984. You Can Heal Your Life. Hay House.
LaPorte,
D., 2013. The Desire Map: A Guide to Creating Goals with Soul. Hay
House.
O’Neill,
M., 2014. T.M. Scanlon and the Problem of Inequality. Boston Review.
Scanlon,
T.M., 1998. What We Owe to Each Other. Belknap Press of Harvard
University Press.
Starkey,
C., 2021. What We Owe to Each Other: The Case for Moral and Social
Responsibility. Wake Magazine.
Comments
Post a Comment