Consequence
 

I believe our beliefs shape our actions. I think actions are motivated by either pleasure or pain (basically).
I would love to hear feedback from you guys as to what certain actions you do (or don't do) due to your beliefs and how would you change them if you could.

Example:
Being God fearing makes me not act on certain impulses, such as... oh lets say killing people. If God was not real, dead people would abound.

I tell myself I can do something- that will help me motivate myself to excel and succeed in whatever it may be, whether regarding work, home, or personal goals. Worrying or doubting about something will only hold me back.
That's one example.
i don't think I would change anything about how I act, except slow my self down more often and listen to my self before I respond or engage with others.

I believe that on the most simplistic level, the only real motivation there is behind any and all actions is personal gain. I think I have yet to find a situation where personal gain isn't justifiable.

Personal gain can be in a variety of different forms, be it wealth/profit, emotion, ect.

Karma

Prosequence, continue believing in god.

NoSoup, the justifiability of an action/belief doesn't mean that the exact opposite of an action/belief isn't justifiable. The inability to justify an act also says nothing about the opposite of the act.

Man is a rationalizing animal. *grin*

Lol, agreed. Maybe justification wasn't the word that I should have used, but alas, I did :D

Basically, I just believe that no matter what the action, personal gain is the only motivator on the most simplistic level. It is the only reason humans do anything, in my opinion. I realize that that probably isn't viewing people in the most favorable light, but I think it is instinctual.

This reminds me of something I once heard:

Prosequence I'm assuming that you mean beliefs in general, not specifically religious ones?

The main belief system that I have is this "Don't be an asshole." Certain days the interpretation of this can vary, but for the most part this is the one guiding principle in my life. And I wouldn't change it.

I believe instinct always comes first, tempered by direct experience, then what I've been taught. If all those fail, then the dynamic level of decision making kicks in. Or I just kick back and roll a fatty.

Reminds me of a few other quotes, including ones from Ghandi and Buddha. All religions and beleifs hold that as a theory, or Truth to live by. Simply, we're responsible for the actions we take and the life we live. Hence, we're the drivers of our lives, why do some let others grab a hold of the wheel? Or just simply let it steer off course? We all have the power to reach our dreams and goals- and to live a fulfilling life.

Without a very broad definition of "personal gain", I think you are wrong.

If you define "personal gain" broadly enough that it is true, your statement turns into "the reason why people behave the way they do is because people think they way they think."

Altruistic self-sacraficial behaviour (to the point of death) aiding others happens. Sometimes this is because they believe in life/reward/punishment everlasting, but I suspect this isn't the only reason: people actually place others needs ahead of their own, even on instinctual levels. It doesn't always happen, but it happens.

If you want to go deeper down the rabit hole, read up on selfish genes and selfish memes. When the actors on the stage are no longer people, but ideas and genetic features, you can ascribe actions of humans as tending to be in the best interest of various genes and memes. Even here the truth isn't absolute, but rather statistical in nature: genes and memes which are self-interested, and enlightened in this self-interest, propogate over those which are not.

Taking another branch down the rabbit hole, we have the economics of altruism. A friend of mine is doing some mathematical and economic work in this area. A group of humans which are altruistic to each other will outcompete other groups with are not altruistic to each other. Which wins (altruistic or selfish behaviour) depens on which of intra and inter group interactions dominate.

You can also approach this from a philosophical, biological, religious, or a thousand other routes.

For the most part, all the arguements on this sort of issue are rationalizing arguements: why that which is already believed and observed to be true is true, rather than finding unknown truths.

Self interest as motivation
 

I think that a "personal gain" can be found in/attributed to almost any action taken (especially when defined broadly.) However, we do not always think/rationalize before we act. The current trend in neurobiology suggests that emotion is realized before it is processed by the cerebrum or a physiological response can be formed (the cannon-bard theory i believe). Perhaps this doesn't exactly disprove the idea that personal gain is the only true motivator, but it does lead one to believe that we don't always act with any particular result in mind (let alone a desired one.)...whoa I blacked out for a minute there. Did we win?

i dont take another step untill ive securely balanced my present stance. Fear of actually not making the next step.

I agree almost. I think there are decisions made with no expectation of any payoff, because we are reasoning conscious beings, and have the power to do whatever we want. If a person makes a decision based completely on reason then I don't think that person is definitely looking for any sort of emotional gain. I do think alot of people are "good" people because it makes them feel good. I mean I know what you're saying, and I think it's true alot of the time even when it seems like it isn't.