You can’t escape from yourself.

All the distractions in the world — drugs, sex, money, celebrity, power — cannot benumb you from the torture of a philosophically empty soul.

Yet the mass of people chooses lives of quiet or flamboyant desperation hoping to find meaning in orgies of hormonal gratifications. They are on fool’s errands. Fleeting pleasures become jaded from repetition. What are permanent and steady as the Rock of Gibraltar are cerebral pleasures from doing the right thing: kindness, benevolence, unsparing selflessness, unwearied devotion to justice, becoming wiser and more resilient by the day. It is the difference between a depreciating asset and an appreciating asset.

Do not succumb to envy.

Do not capitulate to jealousy.

Do not fret that your bank account falls short of Elon Musk’s.

Do not crave a mansion for a home.

Do not hope to be a movie star or professional football superstar. My dear mother at the end or her life voiced contentment that she had always acted with benevolent motives and took pleasure in helping others without expecting anything in return. She was at peace with herself. She didn’t experience sleepless nights terrified at punishments for cardinal sins. She had none. Her conscience was clear.

Can you say the same? Occasions of sin are ubiquitous. You spy a pretty woman. You spot a diamond ring. You fixate on a movie star. You indulge in gluttony. You crave revenge more than Captain Ahab.

The tale of Alexander the Great and the ascetic Diogenes illustrates my point. Alexander was a great warrior. He had conquered virtually all the civilized world at age 32 — the most powerful man on the planet who attracted limitless courtiers. Diogenes, in contrast, conquered only himself. He devoted his life, among other things, to looking for an honest man with a lamp. The two encountered each other in Corinth. They exchanged only a few words. While Diogenes was relaxing in the morning sunlight, Alexander, excited to meet the famous philosopher, asked if there was any favor he might grant him. Diogenes replied, “Yes, stand out of my sunlight.” Alexander then riposted, “If I were not Alexander, then I should wish to be Diogenes.”

Alexander fought for the excitement of fighting and domination, not for justice. There was no higher purpose in his life. When he died, his empire immediately became fragmented by competing ambitions. There was no philosophical glue to hold it together.

Do not sell your soul for a mess of pottage like Esau to Jacob. Stress shortens longevity. And the greatest source of stress is dissatisfaction with who you are. You are constantly worried about whether you should be doing something differently — diet, exercise, girlfriend or boyfriend, gratitude, benevolence, virility, dress, looks, ad infinitum. The self-torture can be easily terminated. Think of who you want to be. Think of what will provide you with enduring fulfillment. Conform your actions and motivations accordingly.

Scientist, statesman and writer Benjamin Franklin provided a wonderful model to emulate. In his autobiography, Franklin recounts his plan to inculcate virtue and expel vice. He developed a 13-point virtues chart and graded himself daily: Temperance; Silence; Order; Resolution; Frugality; Industry; Sincerity; Justice; Moderation; Cleanliness; Tranquility; Chastity; and Humility. Fame and prosperity followed.

Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” tells a similar story. Ebenezer Scrooge’s greed finds expression in callousness or cruelty in all walks of his life. His former partner, Jacob Marley, is suffering in his afterlife for corresponding avarice. Marley wishes to save Scrooge from his fate and sends three spirits to unveil the emptiness of a life transfixed by money. Like Paul on the way to Damascus, Scrooge suddenly acknowledges the bareness of his life and turns to benevolence, generosity and kindness as the summum bonum. He becomes a second father to Tiny Tim.

To err is human. To recover from errors and do better next time is divine. Nothing surpasses the pleasure of knowing you have done your best and are improving every day.

Armstrong Williams (www.armstrongwilliams.com; @arightside) is a political analyst, syndicated columnist and owner of the broadcasting company, Howard Stirk Holdings. He is also part owner of The Baltimore Sun.