Pay It Forward

The concept of pay it forward has been around for awhile now.  Whether you know it from the book and/or movie or from an act of kindness from another the act of paying it forward has many benefits for both the person giving and receiving.

Doing one good deed for another might not seem like much.  However to the person at the receiving end it can mean the world.

As a bonus when you perform these random acts of kindness it makes you feel better about yourself and can have a positive effect on your immune system. The act of giving and receiving contributes to improving the self worth and self esteem of yourself and those around you.  It can also prevent people from feeling alone or isolated, as well as getting us out of our comfort zones.

Also studies have shown that the positive energy you receive from giving to others helps to relieve stress, which to be honest we all need in this day and age.

Paying it forward doesn't have to be something big, in fact the small things can often mean the most to others.  Examples could be:

• catch someone doing something right, if you get great service at a shop or cafe then say so 
• buy some Instant Kiwi tickets and and put them in your neighbour's letterbox or leave on a co-workers desk
• pay for the person in front of or behind you's food in the queue - even the act of paying for someone's milk can make a huge difference
• hold the door open for others
• if it's raining offer to share your umbrella with someone
• be a mentor for someone who needs your support
• clean out a cupboard and donate anything that you haven't needed or used for a year to someone else or the op shop
• pick flowers from your garden and drop them to a sick neighbour to brighten their day
• where a sign around your neck offering free hugs
• when doing baking drop some off to your neighbours 
• offer excess fruit or vegetables from your garden on facebook for someone else in the community to have

Really the options are as endless as your imagination.

So give back to those around you by paying it forward.  And you will be amazed how good karma means that good things make their way back to you too.