The Architecture of Goodness: Escaping the Trap of Socially Engineered Morality
For many young professionals in their 30s, "being a good person" often feels like an exhausting marathon with no finish line. The provided text argues that our internal conflict stems from a fundamental misunderstanding: we confuse "Innate Goodness" with "Socially Engineered Goodness."
The Concept of "External Order Goodness"
The author suggests that the morality we are taught—duty, sacrifice, and altruism—is often a system designed not for individual growth, but for collective stability. In a family or corporate setting, "being good" often translates to "being controllable." When you are told to "think of others" or "not be selfish," you are being plugged into a system of external order.
Why It Leads to Burnout
If your sense of worth depends on this external system, you become vulnerable to emotional blackmail. You feel guilty for setting boundaries because the system defines "goodness" as self-suppression. For a 30-year-old salaryman, this manifests as staying late for a "team spirit" that doesn't benefit you, or sacrificing your mental health to meet traditional family expectations. True awakening begins when you stop asking "Am I a good person?" and start asking "Whose system am I serving?"