We all do things for the sake of reward. Hold the door for a stranger, to feel good about ourselves. Let someone pass in front of your car, to get a smile in return. You get the idea.
However, how many things do you do for the sake of absolutely no recognition whatsoever? Probably not many.
When you really think about it though, these are the opportunities where we really get to show our true colors. Are we a giver or a taker? As you know, I argue that the happier path through life is as a giver, which I talked about yesterday, and this type of action, really reinforces your position as a giver.
So, find an opportunity to do something nice that no one will ever know about. It can be as simple as picking up trash when no one can see you. Make a totally anonymous donation. Put a shopping cart away the right way. It will be your little secret, and you can help reinforce the fact that you are a giver in this world.
P.S. Of course, the nihilist would say that when we do good things without recognition we are still getting an internal reward, but I’ll argue if that was the case, you would be doing these kinds of things constantly, and if you already are, you need to really think about stopping.