Paying It Forward

Paying it forward is not new but has been further enhanced since 370 BC. The term has been a common phrase over the years but became even more popularized in 2000 when the movie adaptation of Catherine Ryan Hyde’s novel, Pay It Forward was released.

The idea is to provide a mighty, unexpected life-enhancing deed or gift, of any size, to another person who, in turn, will Pay it Forward to someone in need.

Here are five reasons to pay it forward

1. Knowing you have helped someone else makes you feel good.

2. You have changed someone’s life, perhaps making it better or giving them a hand up they

3. need

4. It enhances your self-worth and shows character and integrity as a person

5. committed to making the world a better place.

6. It shows your desire to help make your community a better place

7. An act of kindness, utilizing your skills and knowledge, creates the power of change, giving joy to

someone less fortunate or down on their luck.

Considering that each person’s life situation is different, mainly the haves and the haves not’s, it’s important to remember it could have been you in the downward condition. It takes a little time to provide the gift of a hand-up. The receiver expects to respond to a person’s kindness by being kind to someone else, thus paying it forward.

Knowing from firsthand experience, I like to share with many individuals that life is part of a circle. You go into the circle, parking your ego at the door, leaving your agenda behind, and simply coming into this circle to build relationships and make a difference to someone else without expecting to return. If a person can accomplish this, the circle remains unbroken, and you will see it come back to you tenfold.