What does "pay it forward" mean?
We will be looking at the meaning of "paying it forward".
Paying it forward
" Pay it forward" comes from the phrase "pay it forward" and most likely comes from Lily Hardy Hammond's novel, In the Garden of Delight. In the book, she wrote, "You don't pay love back; you pay it forward.", creating the concept of paying it forward.
The simplest way to explain "pay it forward" is that when a person does something for you, you should pass a good deed on to another person instead of doing something in return for the person who first gifted something to you.
Some people believe that there are three simple rules when it comes to paying it forward:
1 - It needs to be something that the other person can not do for him/herself.
2 - The benefactor has to pay it forward to someone else, no matter the deed, object or action
3 - It has to be something that truly helps the other person, even if it is big or small.
The other benefit of paying it forward is the reality that it will make you feel happier. Studies have shown that people feel happier when helping others rather than keeping things for themselves.
Example of paying it forward.
"I enjoy paying it forward, it makes me feel happy."
"I think the idea of paying it forward should be encouraged in society."
"We should teach our children to pay it forward, helping to create a healthier society".
Exercises:
Sometimes _____________ can be difficult, especially when you are also struggling.
Children should learn to ______________, as being selfish is unhealthy.
______________ is not just limited to giving money, but also giving time, love, care, and help where needed.
Conclusion
The concept of "paying it forward" sounds a little strange, but the more we learn to give to others, the more others will want to extend that kindness to those in need.
What does it mean to pay it forward?
This is an expression we say or use when someone has done something kind for us. It can be small or big. We can't pay the person back so we pay the kindness forward. It makes me feel good inside when I pay it forward.
There was a popular movie in the 2000 with Haley Joel Osment and Kevin Spacey called "Pay it Forward". This movie made the phrase more famous. I suggest you watch it if you want a better understanding what "Paying it Forward" looks like and feels like.
Examples: My neighbor gave me a bushel of apples. I paid it forward and gave my family pies made from the apples.
I didn't have enough money to pay the cashier for my bag of groceries. The kind stranger behind me paid for them. I paid it forward by donating to my favorite charity later in the week.
Conclusion:
Has anyone done something kind for you? Do you share that kindness with others? It can be through an act of service or object. I encourage you to "Pay it Forward".
Pay it forward means to respond to a person's kindness to oneself by being kind to someone else. When someone does something for you, instead of paying that person back directly, you pass it on to another person instead.