Creating a Beautiful World together with Love, Light, and the Law of Attraction

Pay It Forward

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Let's make a positive difference in this world? One way is the practice "paying it forward." These simple steps could change the world.

Location: The Universe
Members: 42
Latest Activity: Oct 27

How to Pay it Forward

Be attentive wherever you are for opportunities to help someone. Perhaps you have an elderly or disabled neighbor who is too proud to ask for help with their yardwork or maybe you're in a restaurant and see someone who looks like they could use some kind stranger to pay for their meal. You can change people's attitudes about the world through your unobtrusive acts of kindness.

Do something nice for someone you don't know (or don't know very well). It should be something significant, and not for a person from whom you expect a good deed -- or anything at all, for that matter -- in return.

Spread the word. If the person thanks you and wants to "repay" you (that is, pay it "back"), let them know that what you'd really like is for them to pay it "forward" -- you'd like them to do something nice for three people they don't know, and ask those three people to do something nice for three more people. The idea is to consciously increase the goodness of the world.

Pay it forward. When you notice that somebody has done something nice for you, make a note in your mind to practice three acts of kindness towards other people, as described in Step 2.

Tips:
The "pay it forward" concept was popularized with the book Pay It Forward by Catherine Ryan Hyde, which was later made into a movie with the same title, starring Helen Hunt, Haley Joel Osment, and Kevin Spacey.

Even small acts, such as paying the toll for the car behind you when you pay for your own, or paying for the meal at a fast food drive through of the car behind you counts.
Just tell the worker to let the person behind you to ask them to pay it forward to 3 people.
If it makes the world a friendlier place, you succeeded!

Practicing the "pay it forward" principle will make you alert to unexpected kindness from strangers toward you,
and you may find yourself becoming more grateful for everyday kindness and consideration from people you don't even know.

It can feel risky to help strangers, but trust your own good intentions and don't be afraid to go out on a limb if you believe your actions can help the person.

Leave stories in the comments of how this concept has affected you as you practice
random acts of kindness.
Love and Light :)
Mike

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Comment by Mike Ludens on January 20, 2009 at 7:02pm: Wow!! That's a great story Melissa :)
Thank You so much for posting that.
This is one example of why I love this concept so much.
I am grateful for the first person who put this idea into
play.
Love and Light :)
Mike

Comment by melissa-magee on January 20, 2009 at 3:43pm: Irish Luck - Remember to send it back and pass it around :)
His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer... One day, while trying to make a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools
and ran to the bog.

There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death.
The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved.

I want to repay you,' said the nobleman. 'You saved my son's life.'

'No, I can't accept payment for what I did,' the Scottish farmer replied waving off the offer. At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the door of the family hovel.

'Is that your son?' the nobleman asked.

'Yes,' the farmer replied proudly.

'I'll make you a deal. Let me provide him with the level of education my own son will enjoy. If the lad is anything like his father, he'll no doubt grow to be a man we both will be proud of.' And that he did.

Farmer Fleming's son attended the very best schools and in time, graduated from St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin.

Years afterward, the same nobleman's son who was saved from the bog was stricken with pneumonia.

What saved his life this time? Penicillin.

The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill .. His son's name?
Sir Winston Churchill.

Someone once said: What goes around comes around.

Work like you don't need the money.

Love like you've never been hurt.

Dance like nobody's watching.

Sing like nobody's listening.

Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

It's National Friendship Week. Send this to everyone you consider A FRIEND..

Pass this on, and brighten someone's day.

AN IRISH FRIENDSHIP WISH: You had better send this back!! Good Luck!

I hope it works...

May there always be work for your hands to do;

May your purse always hold a coin or two;

May the sun always shine on your windowpane;

May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain;

May the hand of a friend always be near you; May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

Comment by OPhelia Chamberlain on January 20, 2009 at 12:51pm: Thank you, I have practiced that theory a lots in my past. It is an wonderful idea. It will go well, I know it. Thank you for your brilliances, Mike.

Comment by Mike Ludens on January 20, 2009 at 1:11am: Thank You Shanti :)
I can't wait to see some of the results from the incredible
spirits we have in this community.
Love and Light :)
Mike

Comment by Shanti Shaharazade on January 20, 2009 at 1:04am: it was an amazing movie, an amazing idea... i love to do this... and i always make them promise to 'pay it forward' .. i love to see the look on people's faces when they realize that is all that is asked... a beautiful manifesting, rippled effect!!!