Pay It Forward
Happy Wednesday!
“Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.” - Mother Theresa
If you haven't seen the movie, it's worth watching. The concept is to give someone - your time or talents - perhaps money if that's what you have plenty of - without expecting anything in return. In the movie, the young boy, Trevor, has to come up with a social studies project, something that will change the world and he is tasked to put it into action. Trevor comes up with the idea of paying a favor, not back, but forward. And to keep the generosity moving forward, three good deeds are done to three new people. The act of giving anonymously is a way to guarantee not getting anything in return, and as seen in the movie, it can be very rewarding emotionally.
I’ve shared this story in my classes over the years and I’ve heard many incredible examples of what people have done in the spirit of Pay It Forward. From cleaning off people’s snow and ice covered cars, to paying for their tolls on the thruway. It doesn’t have to be money; it’s just an act of giving that creates happiness for another person. It’s thinking about making someone else’s day.
When you give anonymously, there’s a quiet happiness and peace inside. When you start to make a habit of this, it helps you to stop needing the acknowledgement and recognition. You begin to understand your own needs. For many of us we want to be acknowledged when we give, and we expect something back; at the very least, a thank you. When we depend on the recognition, it becomes a negative needy energy. We can still appreciate it when someone wants to acknowledge or recognize us, but we don’t have to need it.
If you haven’t tried giving anonymously yet, check it out. Mail someone a $20 bill with no return address. Or leave it somewhere you know they'll get it. Mow someone’s lawn. Pay for someone's meal behind you in the drive through line. Shovel someone’s sidewalk. Just look for something you can do to give anonymously. It doesn't always have to be anonymous but it's a good practice to see how it feels to not need the recognition. Not that there's anything wrong with saying thanks, but anonymity takes away that element of expectation of getting something back. The feeling is really cool, almost liberating!
Cheers,
“Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.” - Mother Theresa
If you haven't seen the movie, it's worth watching. The concept is to give someone - your time or talents - perhaps money if that's what you have plenty of - without expecting anything in return. In the movie, the young boy, Trevor, has to come up with a social studies project, something that will change the world and he is tasked to put it into action. Trevor comes up with the idea of paying a favor, not back, but forward. And to keep the generosity moving forward, three good deeds are done to three new people. The act of giving anonymously is a way to guarantee not getting anything in return, and as seen in the movie, it can be very rewarding emotionally.
I’ve shared this story in my classes over the years and I’ve heard many incredible examples of what people have done in the spirit of Pay It Forward. From cleaning off people’s snow and ice covered cars, to paying for their tolls on the thruway. It doesn’t have to be money; it’s just an act of giving that creates happiness for another person. It’s thinking about making someone else’s day.
When you give anonymously, there’s a quiet happiness and peace inside. When you start to make a habit of this, it helps you to stop needing the acknowledgement and recognition. You begin to understand your own needs. For many of us we want to be acknowledged when we give, and we expect something back; at the very least, a thank you. When we depend on the recognition, it becomes a negative needy energy. We can still appreciate it when someone wants to acknowledge or recognize us, but we don’t have to need it.
If you haven’t tried giving anonymously yet, check it out. Mail someone a $20 bill with no return address. Or leave it somewhere you know they'll get it. Mow someone’s lawn. Pay for someone's meal behind you in the drive through line. Shovel someone’s sidewalk. Just look for something you can do to give anonymously. It doesn't always have to be anonymous but it's a good practice to see how it feels to not need the recognition. Not that there's anything wrong with saying thanks, but anonymity takes away that element of expectation of getting something back. The feeling is really cool, almost liberating!
Cheers,
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