Pay It Forward

Good Deeds…Paying it Forward…


In today’s local newspaper and Associated Press article titled; “The Power of Getting Disconnected,” hit a nerve. When I contrast the article with the recent 100 Day Challenge I just finished; my personal challenge will be a twist on the “Pay It Forward” mindset.

Throughout the 100 Day Challenge we were challenged to take 100% responsibility for our actions and equally important to challenge the status quo within your family, business, church and community. Allow me to share the driving quote for the 100 Day Challenge;

“Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. All the times you can. To all the people you can. For as long as you can.”
- John Wesley

Paying it forward can have significant positive influences on society. Paying it forward starts with you, in a small way—the next time you fly, leave in the seat back pocket the magazine you bought before your flight. Hold the door open for someone approaching the door, you’ll see smiles. The next time you’re dining out, make sure you tell your wait person how well they did, and reflect it in your tip, call the manager over and thank them for hiring such good people. The next time you see a young family that you know are struggling to put gas in the car, pay for their tank of gas, you’ll never miss the money. It goes a very long way and reciprocity happens. And serial reciprocity can change a nation. Paying it forward changes our perspective; we go from immediate satisfaction to a longer view of future vs. present and know today’s action will have a real and measurable affect on tomorrow.

Albert Einstein knew it and said, “A Life Lived for Others Is the Only Life Worth Living.”

Paying it forward starts local and small. Mother Teresa was eloquent in her challenge, “If You Can’t Feed 100 People, Then Just Feed One.”

There is a wonderful mythical law of nature that the three things we crave most in life—happiness, freedom, and peace of mind—are always attained by GIVING them to someone else.

Getting disconnected from the “grid” allows us to regain perspective. Paying it forward allows your heart to expand and serve the needs of a society craving for happiness, freedom and peace of mind. My challenge is to reach out, look for opportunities and take action to pay it forward. Always being mindful of the change society dearly needs, and reflect that change in my actions. I’m confident we can change the world, one good deed at a time. Being benevolent, anonymous, meaningful and purposeful about paying it forward will begin the shift we always talk about. Let’s start right now, where can you pay it forward?

Paying it forward will bring you closer to Surpassing Your Limits.