Last week, I watched a very interesting movie, “Pay It Forward” by Kevin Spacey and Helen Hunt. It’s a story of an eleven years old boy who came up with an amazing idea for his social study assignment. The teacher, played by Kavin Spacey, gave his class a year-long assignment to “think of an idea to change our world and put it into action”. Trevor, the young boy, started a chain of ‘pay it forward’. Each person has to give 3 “Big” favors to 3 other persons expecting nothing in return. These three persons, in their turn should “pay it forward” to three more people and the movement goes on in an exponential rate.
This simple idea started a chain reaction that spread good will and altruism beyond the young boy expectations even beyond his awareness. In real life, we could never realize the full effect of our actions. We do not have a hidden camera that follows the chain to tell us how influential we were.
The idea of the film is so simple, yet so powerful. Can a simple idea really change the world? Can a simple action make a huge difference in people’s life?
When we perform sincere actions with pure intention, when we assume responsibility for this world we live in and honestly step forward to make it a better place, when we actually take a step, even a tiny baby step, or when we take a leap of faith while surrendering the results to our Creator, we can surely make a difference. A simple person, regardless of his/her age, level of education, wealth or social status, a simple person CAN make a difference.
Never underestimate the power of your actions, or even the power of your ideas. The blessing hidden in a good will and sincere intention, in a simple act of kindness, in a humble gesture of love, forgiveness, or care, CAN achieve miracles.
While writing this blog, I thought, why don’t I, then, start with myself? Why don’t we, right here, right now, start a chain reaction of good will, of ‘Pay It Forward’?
Let’s each make 3 ‘Big’ altruistic actions. 3 ‘Pay it Forward’ acts. Be them helping someone in need, forgiving a long held grudge, saving a stranger, or supporting a friend… It could be anything, but it has to be BIG. Not just letting someone pass before you in a traffic jam or holding your temper before your teenage boy. Our ‘Pay It Forwards’ need to be BIG things, things that will make a difference in other people’s lives. Things that will help them and help the whole world become a better place to live. Things that will touch their hearts deep enough to make them ‘Pay It Forward’ in their turn to 3 other persons. And let the chain expand beyond our scope of recognition. We do not have to directly ‘see’ the results of our good deeds, but deep in our hearts and souls, we know that we will be generously rewarded in this life and the Next, God willing.
Let’s give ourselves 1 month to choose and perform our 3 deeds. Note it in your diary, on the 7th of April 2012 reassess your actions. You can give yourself wider time frame if you wish, but you have to specify a date for it to be a real goal not a mere wish or dream.
Let’s make the world a better place to live!
Have a great week!
This simple idea started a chain reaction that spread good will and altruism beyond the young boy expectations even beyond his awareness. In real life, we could never realize the full effect of our actions. We do not have a hidden camera that follows the chain to tell us how influential we were.
The idea of the film is so simple, yet so powerful. Can a simple idea really change the world? Can a simple action make a huge difference in people’s life?
When we perform sincere actions with pure intention, when we assume responsibility for this world we live in and honestly step forward to make it a better place, when we actually take a step, even a tiny baby step, or when we take a leap of faith while surrendering the results to our Creator, we can surely make a difference. A simple person, regardless of his/her age, level of education, wealth or social status, a simple person CAN make a difference.
Never underestimate the power of your actions, or even the power of your ideas. The blessing hidden in a good will and sincere intention, in a simple act of kindness, in a humble gesture of love, forgiveness, or care, CAN achieve miracles.
While writing this blog, I thought, why don’t I, then, start with myself? Why don’t we, right here, right now, start a chain reaction of good will, of ‘Pay It Forward’?
Let’s each make 3 ‘Big’ altruistic actions. 3 ‘Pay it Forward’ acts. Be them helping someone in need, forgiving a long held grudge, saving a stranger, or supporting a friend… It could be anything, but it has to be BIG. Not just letting someone pass before you in a traffic jam or holding your temper before your teenage boy. Our ‘Pay It Forwards’ need to be BIG things, things that will make a difference in other people’s lives. Things that will help them and help the whole world become a better place to live. Things that will touch their hearts deep enough to make them ‘Pay It Forward’ in their turn to 3 other persons. And let the chain expand beyond our scope of recognition. We do not have to directly ‘see’ the results of our good deeds, but deep in our hearts and souls, we know that we will be generously rewarded in this life and the Next, God willing.
Let’s give ourselves 1 month to choose and perform our 3 deeds. Note it in your diary, on the 7th of April 2012 reassess your actions. You can give yourself wider time frame if you wish, but you have to specify a date for it to be a real goal not a mere wish or dream.
Let’s make the world a better place to live!
Have a great week!
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