The Pay-it forward challenge

In a world where you have free will, you have the power to change the world, one person at a time. Pay it forward is a concept that means you do something good for someone else without expecting a reward. Some people would say you do something in such a way as to inspire someone to do a good deed.  This is the chance to do something big. No limits.

Take it further. The system invites you to do something meaningful to help three people. Consider this a challenge, an invitation to help others. Whether or not you see the results of some of your deeds, share what you know of at least one process. Take this opportunity to share related experience.  As Gandi said, be the change you wish to see in the world;

Comments

[Lance]

Liara,
I'll take yesterday. My daughter had a friend stay overnight, and then in the morning we had a soccer game to go to. The friend had forgotten her shin guards, which are required to play. We had an old pair, but ones that were in bad shape. They could have worked, but she really wanted her own pair. And we were already running late. I took the time, though, to go over to her house so she could get what she needed. Really, very simple. And yet, I think the lesson is important here - the value of another person. And I hope that someday when she's in a similar situation, where it might be easy to rush off to whatever is going on, that she takes the time to stop and see the deeper need of a friend (or stranger).

I love the Gandhi quote, so moving these few words...

[Liara Covert]

Lance, you remind people not to consider what is not working in your circumstances but where you have potential to influence positive change. You do not focus on how inconvenient the problem is. Instead, you choose to shift vantage point and see an opportunity to do good. Your kindness inspires the phrase, 'one good turn deserves another.' As people like you inspire others evolve to do such a thing automatically, this transforms the global energy vibration from lower to higher.

If someone is in trouble, you can be their savior. If someone does not believe things can get better, you can inspire them to shift their mindset and question to when.

[Bern]

Altuism ~ Does it truly exist? It is relative. When you help others you are helping your self. There is truly nothing to pay forward because if one is centered, then all of your actions have consequences that reach forward to rearrange the world around you in a less tense way. If one feels the need to pay it forward, it becomes an attachment or a need. It is an issue that eventually will be resolved. By finding comfort in Being, then one has done all they can for humanity. It is perfection for All. It transcends the ego's need to feel useful. Paradoxically, by transcending ego, one becomes of perfect use to the Universe.

Teach someone to fish instead of handing out fish. Then you are teaching someone to become there own saviour. If one helps to support a loop that another is stuck in, then the loop is reinforced and continues to provide problems. If shin guards are fogotten, then perhaps the child would not play. If so, the child would never forget the shin guards again. Instead, forgetfulness has been reinforced.

[Davina]

Hi Liara. I remember not too long ago that I "paid it forward" in the grocery lineup. I purchased a gift card for groceries and promptly handed it to the girl in line behind me. She was so thankful. What I noticed was how it not only affected my spirits and hers, but the cashier who was also observing and delighting in the whole experience. It enraptured all of us -- sent out ripples... :-)

[Alexys Fairfield]

Hi Liara,

I like this challenge and I have no limits on how many people I pay forward. I especially love the reaction on the faces of people I do this with. They are sometimes speechless and have the same joy on their faces as a child at Christmas. I love this exercise.

[Liara Covert]

Bern, people do understand 'altruism' in different ways. As you imply, if one is in the ego mindset of separateness, then one can feel devoted and detached, but may act conditionally. On some level, one may feel obligated or torn between ego desire for positive energy to reciprocate. Your well-intentioned impulse to help someone may overlook that person makes certain choices to learn certain lessons. The possibilitiy arises one may interfere in another's karma, if you believe in karma, of course.

Let's say a person performs a gesture out of pure love. It reflects unconditional love toward self. Such a gesture comes freely with no strings, no expectations. Some people do anonymous good deeds and never tell the recipient of the origin of goodness. Lunch appears for a homeless person for instance, and gives him will to live. Some people benefit from a gentle reminder that love is, love exists and that they are loved. The 'pay-it forward concept' can facilitate stages of awakening. Its not meant to perpetuate vicious circles, but to enable people to expand perspective and possibility. As you see self in everything, become everything, then you are opting to help self or turn away from self. To see beyond the personality or persona you identify with enables you to see self as the divine sees you. Acting divinely is to love everyone unconditionally, help others as you help you.

[Liara Covert]

Davina, the impulsive, 'feel good' gestures are helping heal the inner self within your energy field and beyond. Each instant you choose to help others, you are simultaneously helping your self. You translate thoughts into other gestures of love.

[Bern]

I totally agree with you Liara in everything that you said.

It's just that if we go looking for the opportunity to help others, then we are searching for something to do. If we are just going about our daily lives and one sees something they can do unconditionally, then it is in the spirit of the moment.

However, like any dicipline, we start a routine to transcend the routine. At first our actions are rigid and as we become familiar with the rhythms, we transcend the routine and perform the task without thinking, but by feeling and becoming the movement.

Paying it forward therefore can be transcended to where, whatever we do, it is in the benefit of the universe where all is respected and tensions are decreased. Love has no motive.

[Liara Covert]

Alexys, as you mention, limits are human inventions. They can gradually be peeled away so numbers lose all significance. When something feels good, you move to stop thinking, stop keeping track. You open the self to the streams of constant, light energy. To receive and experience energy people speak of during euphoria and pure joy, all the time. removes bourndaries and conditions. You do things from the soul because they feel right, they are you.

[Liara Covert]

Bern, to reach that place of expanding, uncondtional love is also understood as an enlightened consciousness. No motive or ego exist. You sense everything as energy.

In this sense, people can reach a state of awareness where they move beyond simply looking for opportunities to do good. That level of creating positive energy can be useful. Yet, as you sense interconnectedness in everything and energy imbalance around and within, you move from working with the langauge of good to language of energy. You realize you can act to facilitate or inspire broader energy shifts that do not only affect individuals. To move naturally to higher levels of energy vibration and joy grows instinctive. This echoes your idea of doing what increases universal vibration. Its another vantage point.

[Patricia - Spiritual Journey Of A Lightworker]

Recently I was going into the grocery store and a small inner voice told me to wait a minute and open the door for the lady coming up behind me. I almost didn't stop. I am glad that I took the extra few minutes to hold the door open for the lady. She shared with me that she was having a really bad day and that she appreciated me holding the door for her. She said that my small act made her day better. You know that I was filled with joy by her acknowledgement. I was glad that I listened to that inner voice. She made my day. This whole thing was totally unplanned by me.

[Hilary]

Hi Liara .. I've probably done my three, four or five today .. but who counts - it's just being polite in some instances, offereing to help in others (I collected an elderly friend of my uncle's so he could visit the hospice), kept the door open for someone etc etc .. Just at the moment I really can't do much more without crashing down - & I don't intend to do that!

Pay it forward ..good challenge to have every day ..
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

[Bern]

We truly pay it forward when we don't feed into a cycle or psychological loop, but rather snap someone out of a cycle. By freeing someone of a spell or a hypnotic trance, one can get off of the merry go round and take the next step forward. This helps everyone and everything under the sun.

If someone is lost in a maze, point them in the direction of nearest exit.

[Felicitas]

Hi Liara,
What a wonderful challenge! Today I packed up 4 big bags of children's clothing and donated them to a women's shelter. I also sent a bag of towels to an animal rescue mission.

The amazing thing about giving to others is that it easily benefits us just as much as those we are helping.

[Jannie Funster]

Yay! This should be done every day, part of a daily routine of gratitude for being alive!