"Be the change you want to see in the world"
- Gandhi
The world can sometimes seem like an unfriendly, cruel place, yet we all want happiness, safety, health, and prosperity for ourselves and those who we love and surround us. We often ask ourselves, how one ordinary person, such as you and I, make a positive difference in this world.
It's pretty simple really. One way, is to practice "paying it forward". We have all seen the movie in which the young boy in the seventh grade puts into action a plan that will change the world for the better.
The boy created a program called "Pay It Forward", based on networking of good deeds. It consists of the recipient of a favour doing a favour for three other people, and asking those three people to continue the pattern.
With the help of tons of research, here are some tips on how to ensure you're paying it forward.
1. Be attentive wherever you are, for opportunities to help someone.
Perhaps an elderly neighbour needs help shoveling snow or fixing something that's broken.
2. Do something nice for someone you don't know.
Although it's great to do nice things for those you love, it takes a lot more work and courage to do something nice for a stranger. Consider paying for someone else's coffee, holding the door for the person behind you or helping carry someone's groceries to their car. Helping a stranger rather than a relative will ensure they cannot repay the favour and therefore are more inclined to pay it forward.
3. Spread the word.
With the believe there is hope for humanity, a person's first instinct will be to thank you and possibly, repay you. Let them know what you're doing and that you'd like them to now "pay it forward". Explain to them what it is you're doing and ask them to do something nice for three other people, as well as ask those people to keep the pattern going.
If you feel as if it's taking too long to explain or perhaps it's too confusing, try finding some "Pay It Forward" cards on Google and print some to hand out. This may even cause a more mysterious effect on those you help.
4. Pay it forward.
Whenever you notice that somebody has done something nice for you, make a mental note to pay it forward to three other people. We often take nice people for granted and random acts of kindness can go unnoticed.
Click on these links for ideas on how to "Pay It Forward"
• http://www.buzzfeed.com/mackenziekruvant/simple-ways-to-pay-it-forward-on-a-daily-basis#.sdzmdwgbo
