Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. ~Leo Buscaglia
Doesn’t it feel wonderful to be the catalyst that activates the pay it forward system? What is paying it forward? For those of you who don’t know — it is when you perform an act of kindheartedness with no need for reward, the receiver of that action then pays it forward to someone else.
This creates a cycle of goodwill that can, hopefully, snowball — spreading out into the world at large.
Do you feel like starting an avalanche of joy today?
How Can I Be of Service?
Here is a simple list of things that you can start to incorporate into your everyday life, scattering those seeds of love and bliss. I guarantee that the pay-off will be huge — just watch how you start affecting people’s lives.
1. Smile at people
Especially the ones that look grumpy. They are the very ones who probably need your beam of sunlight more than anything!
Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love. ~Mother Teresa
2. Hug people
Most people are tactile and appreciate some physical contact. It could mean the world of difference to them if you hugged them instead of just standing there like a great lump!
Hugs are the universal medicine. ~Author Unknown
3. Genuine compliments
Don’t hold back on this one but don’t force it either. There are so many times whenwe think something nice about a person but never actually open our mouths to voice it. Just one little-spoken observation could make someone’s day.
4. Practice kindness
Be gentle and giving in all you do. Don’t only reserve yourself for friends and family. Treat everyone you meet as If you were long lost buddies. Do this with animals too; they just thrive on unconditional love.
To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children… to leave the world a better place… to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
5. Be impeccable with your word
Think before you speak. Try to filter out your blurbs. Sometimes we say too much or let slip hurtful things that we can’t retract, so be mindful of your dialogue at all times. People will notice this and want the same quality.
6. Thoughtfulness
Bring tokens of love and gratitude whenever you visit or bump into someone. I learned this from Deepak Chopra. He said that this can be in the form of a silent prayer or blessing, a bunch of hand-picked flowers or a poem. It needn’t cost anything but the thought. People really do appreciate your consideration.
7. Greet
Always try to say a cheerful ‘hello’ to passers-by, shop assistants or anyone who catches your eye. This is a simple yet effective practice that works because you are acknowledging their existence.
Comments
Cherie Roe Dirksen
Cherie is a self-empowerment author, multi-media artist and musician living in the Klein Karoo, South Africa. She has weekly blogs at her site www.cherieroedirksen.comwhere she discusses practical and insightful perspectives on taking responsibility for your life and following your bliss.You can follow her on Facebook, on Pinterest, on LinkedIn and on YouTube.
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11 Comments
Cherie Roe Dirksen
at 12:31 pm
Sorry, that should have been ‘Jia’.
Cherie Roe Dirksen
at 12:29 pm
I’m happy it helped, Jai. 🙂
Jia Ni @ Happy Healthy Abundant
at 1:04 pm
Amazing article – and filled with so many beautiful tips. Thank you!
Cherie Roe Dirksen
at 10:15 am
I’m so glad it resonated with you, Barbara. 🙂
Cherie Roe Dirksen
at 10:14 am
Thank you, David. I’m glad you enjoyed them.
Cherie Roe Dirksen
at 10:13 am
There is such an abundance of wisdom out there. 😉 Thanks for reading.
Cherie Roe Dirksen
at 10:10 am
Good to hear you’re already practicing these things. We definitely should acknowledge all kinds of beauty and not just the media driven type.
Barbara Sinclair
at 2:49 pm
So simple, yet so profoundly true! Thanks, Cherie!
David J. Singer
at 10:37 am
Cherie:
I enjoyed both of your posts today. They work well together. Your last point about greeting passersby and shop assistants and in the other post homeless people.
Thank you for your good work.
Best regards,
David
Charmaine McDonald
at 7:14 am
I have heard Leo Buscaglia on dvd, great man and great words of wisdom. Have read some books of Gibran. Thanks for this article. God”s Richest Blessings.
Colleen
at 8:24 pm
All great things! I’ve been practicing a lot of these anyways.
One thing about complimenting strangers: The media has conditioned people to think thin is beautiful. So make sure that curvy girls get attention and compliments as much as or more than the skinny ones. Everyone say love!
And this reminds me, I need to write a thank you to a great aunt.