The Psychology of Paying It Forward
Paying it forward is more than just a nice thing to do. The act of giving and helping others can actually make you feel better, even if you are not receiving any direct benefit from the generosity.
Become a better person by choosing to be more helpful to others.
While it may be hard to fathom, helping other people is a good way to relieve stress and improve your own mental health. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), "helping others can be a positive way of coping with stressful events."
The APA also notes that another benefit of volunteering is that it gives you an opportunity to use your skills and abilities for the benefit of others." This allows you to become more confident in your abilities as well as identify new ways you could apply those skills in your everyday life or career.
It's not just about feeling good about yourself, though—the act of giving back makes us feel more connected with our community at large. The APA reports that "[b]uilding strong communities is important because they provide support when times get tough and resources when they're needed most."
Seeing someone doing something kind can inspire you to do the same.
When you see someone do something kind for someone else, you are more likely to be inspired to perform an act of kindness yourself. This can happen when you see a stranger or friend doing something nice, but it's even more likely when the person doing something kind is famous or powerful.
For example, after seeing a politician give money to charity on television and hearing about how he's donating his salary to help homeless families and schools in need, you might decide that it's worth spending your own money on food for the hungry at your local shelter. Similarly, if your sister throws away her old clothes so they don't land in a landfill and donates them instead so they'll be reused by others who need them more than she does (and posts it all over social media), then there's a good chance that this will inspire you to recycle some items around your house too.
By merely observing kindness, you are spreading it in your community.
You don't have to be the one doing the good deed, either. By merely observing kindness, you are spreading it in your community.
If you see someone helping another person, go up and thank them for it. If someone offers you something without being asked (like a cup of water or food), take it graciously and say "thank you." Don't forget to let those around you know when they've done something kind for others - whether that's giving someone a compliment on their outfit when they're feeling self-conscious or offering to help an elderly person with their groceries at the checkout line! And if someone does something nice for yourself? Be sure to pay them back in kind by being grateful and thankful every time.
Be extra mindful of other people's feelings and needs.
Paying it forward is a great way to build your own happiness and help others, but you have to be careful not to become a martyr. In order for this strategy to work, you need to be mindful of the needs and feelings of others.
As you are helping others, ask yourself: "How does this help them?" If there's no benefit for them in doing something nice for someone else, then don't do it at all. You should also think about how your actions make other people feel as well—and remember that they may not like being asked or told what they can do for another person (especially if they're already doing a lot).
Conclusion
We hope that you’ll take a moment to think about the good acts in your life. If you’re feeling low on energy and motivation, look around at all the kindness that surrounds you! It may be something small like letting someone go ahead of you in line or helping them carry their groceries out to their car. There are many ways to pass along a kind deed – now it's time for us all to do it together!
Stanley Bawalan