This past week was my first week back in school, and I've been following a rigorous schedule that requires me to budget my time wisely. After a long week, I woke up this morning questioning my motivations for my actions. I wondered whether I do things for the right and most altruistic reasons and whether I would still do them without pay or recognition. Would I still work? Would I still write?
While reading this week's Parsha about Yisro, there was much to think about. One concept in Likkutei Sichos, based on this week's Parsha, caught my attention. The Lubavitcher Rebbe asked, "Is a good deed still valuable if it is done for the wrong reasons?" In this case, I understood it as not being altruistic or having the wrong intentions. Surprisingly, the answer was yes — it still counts.
Even if you're doing something for the wrong reason, it's still making a difference and is important. Additionally, even if something starts with the wrong intentions, it can transform over time. This lesson teaches us that every positive action, regardless of its initial motivation, contributes to a better world. Even the smallest act of kindness has the power to create a ripple effect of goodness. If you're ever torn, remember that the good things you do matter, and sometimes it is not going to be 100% selfless. Keep doing them!
Good Shabbos
All the best
Avroham Yehudah Ross
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