Am I a Good Person or Am I Overthinking Again?
A Simple Question
The funny thing is, I can easily describe what makes a fruit good. I can break down what makes art good. I could even give a 20-minute speech on how astrology can seamlessly fit into your life. On the flip side, I can just as easily explain why tomatoes are terrible—unless they’re cut. I can describe the unmistakable stench of cat pee. I can analyze, in detail, the poor decision-making skills of certain people. I can describe good and bad but when my brain asks, “Are you a good person?”—I just… blank.
Blank—not in a psychotic way, just in a wait, why can’t I answer this? kind of way. My mind just refuses to land on an answer. Which is weird, considering I’m an over-thinker who loves philosophy and has read countless perspectives on this exact question. I don’t fully disagree with any of them, but I can’t say I 100% agree either.
Curious, I decided to ask people the same question. And let me tell you—I’ve never gotten so many views and interactions on a story before. It was wild. Over 100 people (that I know) responded. The other 230+? Swiped past like I had just asked them for some pocket change or something. Either way, I was blown away by the responses. A) People actually participated and B), peoples’ answer choices had me perplexed. Seeing all of you answer with ease or maybe it was a no brainer kind of baffled me.
And really, I put y’all to the test to see whether your morality is rooted in reason, or does it come from divine command? Aristotle’s philosophy of virtues to what is good or the idea of God as the ultimate source of morality has shaped how we define goodness. And of course, for the goofballs I put ‘no dawg’ and to be honest still debating if that is a joke or not.
Are You a Good Person?
One created by humans; one created for humans—a battle that has stood the test of time. The tension between reason and faith has shaped history, philosophy, and morality. Religion and faith have never been my strong suit, but I know that every God, across different traditions, offers a unique path to enlightenment or salvation. While trying to navigate my own journey, I can’t help but notice the striking similarities between religious teachings and philosophical reasoning.
Take Aristotle, for example. He believed that being a good person meant developing virtue through habit and rational thought. A perfect parallel to this is prayer—consistently giving thanks for blessings and seeking guidance, just as 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 urges: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
In his Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle argued that moral goodness isn’t about rigidly following rules but about finding the golden mean—the balance between excess and deficiency. I advocate this all the time! Balance is everywhere and to practice balance is how to win in life. This aligns closely with biblical teachings on self-discipline and moderation. For example, the seven deadly sins warn against extremes: gluttony leads to a life of endless craving, never truly satisfied (Proverbs 23:20-21: “Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.”). Similarly, pride, the opposite extreme of humility, is condemned throughout scripture (Proverbs 16:18: “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”).
Full Circle
At their core, both philosophy and religion ask the same fundamental question: What does it mean to live a good life? Maybe the answers aren’t as different as we think.
Aristotle saw eudaimonia (flourishing or living well) as the ultimate goal of life, achieved by cultivating virtues like wisdom, temperance, and justice. He believed that consistently practicing these virtues shapes a person’s character, leading them toward moral excellence. Having a strong sense of these virtues naturally guides a person toward making good decisions—not out of obligation, but because virtue becomes second nature.
If virtue leads to good decisions, and good decisions shape character, then maybe that’s how people come to be labeled as “good.” At least, that’s how I think it would work. But does that mean goodness is something we do, or something we are?
This question sits uncomfortably with me because, sure, I know I do good deeds—but is that all it takes to make me a good person? I don’t fully agree with that standard. If goodness is subjective, then technically, I could qualify anything as “good” in my own eyes. But if we shift the conversation to greatness, then it becomes a different story. In that case, I’d compare myself to people who have truly achieved something remarkable. And yet, that contradiction bothers me—why am I willing to measure greatness against others, but not goodness? Maybe the real question is: Should goodness be relative, or is there an objective standard we’re all reaching for? And if there is, who is the ultimate being to wield such a power? The only answer I could come up with is God.
At first glance, these two views seem worlds apart—one based on logic, the other on faith. Yet, they both aim to answer the same fundamental question: What does it mean to be a good person? Their ideas have shaped modern ethics, law, and culture in ways we often take for granted.
In many ways, religious teachings have served as a guiding path to morality in philosophy. The Bible, for instance, emphasizes wisdom as the foundation of a meaningful life. Proverbs 4:7 states, “The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.”
Wisdom isn’t just acquired through study—it comes from experience, from stepping into the world and exploring every corner of it. The people we meet, the cultures we immerse ourselves in, and the landscapes we traverse all weave together into a vast, intricate puzzle. And maybe, if we keep seeking, that puzzle will eventually lead us down a path of lasting enlightenment.
I Want to Bring the Whole World Down
"The Difference" by Flume is the perfect song of the week because let’s be real, is there even a difference following God or being virtuous? Society loves to act like there’s some Grand Canyon between the two, like one is a participation trophy and the other is an Olympic medal. If good people do good things and another group of good people also do good things (but with, I don’t know, better marketing?), then what are we even talking about?
Maybe the real trick isn’t picking sides but mastering the balancing act—like knowing when to eat a salad and when to order fries. Because if we’re being honest, isn’t life just about enjoying both sides?
Enjoy This Journey With Me
° 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ₒ 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 °
Enjoy This Journey With Me ° 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ₒ 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 °
This isn’t the end—just a bookmark in the conversation. Stories don’t really close; they unfold, shift, and find new voices. If this one stirred something in you, let it breathe. Leave a thought, challenge an idea, or carry it forward in your own way. And if you ever feel like wandering through more unfinished thoughts, you know where to find me. Let’s keep the conversation alive. ~XOXO