@andy1984,
The most "ethical" people I recall were intuitively motivated, by their very essence, to "make a contribution", to "give more than take", to "leave some little part of the world a better place for their having passed through it". Their everyday personalities were somehow extra-considerate, never too hurried to listen, to help, to be kind, to appreciate others.
My husband (we're retired) usually does the grocery shopping because he enjoys it -- a chance to get out and interact with people (I'm less of a "people person" than he). One night he was ill, so I went to the local large grocery-chain store; when I was writing the check to pay, a young assistant-manager exclaimed, "Oh! You're Mrs. *****! Your husband is SUCH a nice man." Oh boy, sometimes it really is hard being married to my husband -- people expect me to be like him, but I'm more of a "hell-hag".
Since I'm not such a great "people person", I felt that it was only right I "made a contribution" in a different way -- guess I've caught my husband's contagious "sense of ethics".
So I started with the cliche "bloom where you're planted", broadened that to "what kind of things am I comfortable doing, in what things am I competent, what might I actually come to enjoy doing?" along with consideration of "what needful areas in life/society genuinely touch my heart?". Realistically, I had to consider our extremely limited "resources" (physical, financial, time, etc).
In my case, practicalities (living out in the middle of rural nowhere with one 25 year old car, and in failing health) made it unrealistic for me to consider most kinds of "people" work (which I stink at, anyway). As I mentioned above, no financial resources. And THEN, I had to consider my saintly husband's feelings. He insisted on participating -- couldn't stand the thought of a "blessing" happening in his own back yard and his not being part of it. (Someday I'm going to drug him! I swear I'm going to drug him...)
We realized we did have one "resource" that might be of use: a couple of acres of fenced (albeit overgrown) land. So now we rescue animals, both large (donkeys) and small (dogs and cats), and continue to put plenty of food out for the little wild birds. The feed and vet bills have gotten us into more debt than we can really handle, the heartbreak of losing some sick animals has been harder than we'd imagined (we didn't realize how attached one can get in such a short time), the physical work has nearly crippled us sometimes, and this project has completely "wrecked" any retirement leisure/hobby plans we might have had.
Still, neither one of us would change our path. Not because we're "ethical" (although others mistakenly perceive us that way), but because we're selfish. We'd miss that warm, tender feeling we get when one of our rescue critters gets a second chance in a loving home, and we know that little critter will bring love, companionship, comfort and delight to other people.
And besides, when all is said and done, what could possibly substitute for that priceless feeling of self righteousness... Ooops, ruined it, didn't I?