It’s rational to make yourself feel more good. That’s the final outcome of every aspect of self-interest that isn’t solely to remain alive. If the intention is to act solely in the self-interest of an emotionless unfeeling human-shaped robot:
it’s very silly as such an entity doesn’t exist and wouldn’t care about its own interests if it did.
it’s inconsistent with many other things Rand advocated for that only make someone feel better, but do so through hedonism rather than charity.
it’s such a terrible model for real humans that it can’t inform us of what’s good for humans.
Hence why they like to specify “rational” self interest.
It’s rational to make yourself feel more good. That’s the final outcome of every aspect of self-interest that isn’t solely to remain alive. If the intention is to act solely in the self-interest of an emotionless unfeeling human-shaped robot: