We live in a world that, at times, can seem to celebrate and reward the greediest among us. We live by our own code of values and morals, yet we see people who are unencumbered by ethics get ahead and who seemingly don’t have a care in the world.

But the truth is, there is a greater joy than the fleeting pleasure of accumulation. There is a greater and lasting peace that comes from developing meaningful relationships rather than taking advantage of others.

There’s an old saying that we all want to be happy, but true happiness is when others are happy. And the deepest happiness we can experience is when those around us are happy because we made them happy. That is the greatest feeling. It’s not fleeting pleasure, it’s lasting joy, the kind that comes from giving the greatest gift to someone else.

Many people in the world, through no fault of their own, perhaps due to military conflict, poverty, or traumatic upbringings, have never experienced this joy. In fact, they may only know the fleeting pleasure that comes from laughing at the suffering of others or finding momentary satisfaction in someone else’s pain. But there is a better way of living — peaceful, joyful, and harmonious with everyone around us — and it is possible.

So it’s not our job to condemn others; it’s our responsibility to lift them up. This doesn’t mean putting ourselves in compromising situations, and it doesn’t mean allowing our joy to be drained. It simply means we recognize the root cause: a lack of awareness. This ignorance, not stupidity, but the simple unawareness of the consequences of one’s actions, both for others and for oneself, is what leads to harmful behavior.

If we are conscious of the fact that doing good for others brings us our greatest, most lasting joy, then we naturally do it. And if we are aware of that truth, we can show it to others. We can teach without depleting ourselves. We can give without losing any part of ourselves.

We do this by staying in touch with ourselves, staying connected with how we’re feeling, what we’re thinking, and protecting our energy, even as we share it with the world. We share in a way that rejuvenates us, in a way that gives us more energy, because we’re doing the most meaningful thing a person can do: spreading love and joy.

When we see someone acting out in anger or pain, it’s easy to judge. It’s easy to hate and resist. But if we expand our perspective and become mindful of what that hate is doing to us, there is really only one option: to help, to share, and to remain open. That is always better than closing off.

And this is how we create a world where we don’t have to keep asking, “Why do people lash out and hurt others?” Because in a world where we see ourselves as one family, their happiness becomes just as important as our own. And this is how we create a world where everyone knows, deeply and truly, that love and compassion are the only way.