The invisible good… it’s there
We all know “the invisible hand” from our economics education, but have you heard of “the invisible good?”
Probably not. I have not. But “the invisible good” is a great name for a concept I believe in. Let me explain.
Life is hard
Life by default is hard, complex, and sometimes unfair. Our random thoughts, ego, poor health, and inherited situations and surroundings make it even harder. Our primitive minds get us in trouble and our negative human nature attributes like greed, war, superiority will not go away in the short term.
If our human race is going to improve, become more unified and civilized, evolve to be more empathetic, and become more focused on peace and protecting our planet, it will likely be led by individuals who have overcome their primal minds and are using their higher minds to lead by example.
That brings me to the “invisible good”, the term I use to describe the positive holistic and societal effects of many individuals doing their part in leading a good life.
As more and more people transcend their primal instincts, including tribalism and greed, a greater good will occur.
What is the invisible good
I am using the “invisible good” as a metaphor for the unseen greater good that comes from individuals overcoming our human nature of greed, ego, and fear to advance our humanity.
Through individual good deeds and an individual’s focus of living a good life, the best interest of society, as a whole, is fulfilled. The constant human internal battle of individual actions focused on self vs others defines our humanity. If we each focus on leading a good life, a greater good results.
In essence, the “invisible good”, is when we all focus individually on doing our part in leading a good life and produce a greater good that protects our planet, society and our future.
“Pay it forward” is fundamental to the invisible good
“Pay it forward” is a concept and phrase that encourages the beneficiary of a good deed to respond by doing a good deed for someone else, rather than simply repaying the person who helped them. The idea is to create a chain reaction of kindness and generosity, where each person’s actions contribute to a cumulative positive impact on others.
The phrase gained popularity through the 2000 film “Pay It Forward,” in which a young boy, inspired by his social studies assignment, comes up with the idea of doing good deeds for others without expecting anything in return. Instead, the recipient of a good deed is encouraged to do something good for someone else.
In essence, “pay it forward” promotes the idea of fostering a cycle of kindness and generosity, creating a ripple effect that extends beyond the initial act of kindness. It’s a way to encourage people to contribute to a positive and supportive community by actively participating in acts of goodwill. It tends to work, since our human nature often drives us to reciprocate.
Attributes of the Invisible Good
Here are some of the attributes I associate with the invisible good.
- Intangible Benefits: “Invisible good” refers to benefits or positive outcomes that are intangible or not immediately apparent. We might not notice someone picking up litter on the sidewalk, but we are more likely to notice a clean neighborhood resulting from all the individuals not littering.
- Hidden Virtues: The invisible good is also related to virtues or qualities that are not easily visible on the surface. There are inherent positive aspects or values in something that are not immediately obvious. Recycling plastic seems arduous and non impactful on the surface, yet when millions of people do it, we reduce waste and our carbon footprint and protect our planet.
- Unseen Contributions: In a more practical context, “invisible good” also describes contributions or efforts that go unnoticed but have a positive impact. For example, buying from a local small business is convenient for consumers, but it also supports the local business owner and family.
- Metaphorical Significance: I am using the term metaphorically to represent something positive that is not easily discernible. To me, it’s both philosophical and poetic to describe individuals doing good as significant because of the invisible greater good that results from many people following.
Invisible good vs invisible hand
The terms “invisible good” and “invisible hand” are related concepts, but they originate from different contexts.
The “invisible hand” is a metaphor introduced by economist Adam Smith. It refers to the self-regulating nature of a free market economy. According to Smith, individuals, by pursuing their self-interest, unintentionally contribute to the overall economic well-being of society. The market functions as if guided by an “invisible hand” that leads to a more efficient allocation of resources.
If individuals, driven by their own interests, invest in industries with high demand, it leads to the growth of those industries, job creation, and economic development—benefits that were not directly intended but emerge through the market process.
Similarly the “invisible good” metaphor refers to “greater good” that is unseen but results from individuals doing good. If individuals, driven by their own purpose to do good and give back, similarly commit to being kinder, helpful, generous, it leads to the advancement of our society, a safer world and a protected planet —benefits that were not directly intended but emerge through individuals doing good.
GoodLiife and the Invisible Good
GoodLiife is committed to helping people find meaning and purpose, to improve their relationships, and to improve their mindsets. If we can help more and more people do this and live a good life, we can create more invisible good on this planet.
Leave a Reply