by Texas Homesteader ~
Our actions are much like a stone tossed into the water, a ripple effect that touches the surrounding area & radiates outward. I’m sharing examples of the ripple effect in action.
Did you ever notice when you throw a small stone into the water ripples form and migrate outward in a wide circle further & further from where the rock initially landed?
I’ve watched those ripples keep going until they reached all the way to the other end of our pond.
The action of that one small stone affected its surroundings much further than its initial point of contact.
I’ve been thinking lately that our actions are much like that stone tossed into the water.
There’s a ripple effect from our actions that touches those around us – either negative or positive – and radiates outward much further than our initial point of contact.
Ripple Effect In Action
Think about this:
If you do a random act of kindness for a stranger, how is it likely to affect that person?
That small gesture from you makes the recipient more likely to want to Pay It Forward, doing a similar random act of kindness for someone else.
That’s the ripple effect in action.
But let’s say instead of an act of kindness you did something negative to that person.
Wouldn’t your negative act have a negative effect on the recipient, making them more likely to pass that negativity on to the next guy?
This is also the ripple effect, but in a more negative way.
See The Ripple Effect In Your Own Life
You can often see the ripple effect in action in your own day-to-day life.
If your boss is harsh or co-workers are snarky to you on any given day, doesn’t that also affect your interactions with others? Which of course would have a negative effect on their interactions with yet others, and so on…
What about when you step out and help a friend, or even a complete stranger. That kindness is felt. And oftentimes it ripples from there to affect others as well.
I’m trying to remember that my actions each day have a ripple effect, whether negative or positive. And I’m trying to make sure the ripples I create are mostly positive.
C’mon I know we can’t feel sunshine & roses every single day, we’re only human. But with just a little effort we can very easily spread a little kindness.
And if we would all just do a small part, what a beautiful world this would be!
Make The Ripples Count
So compliment that co-worker on a new blouse. Tell your boss how much their leadership means to you and future of the company. Or reach out to the neighbor going through hard times.
And yes, a random act of kindness for a complete stranger you’ve never met before and will likely never meet again will create a very positive ripple.
And so will theirs, and theirs, and…
~TxH~
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Great post, great point, I agree let’s remember that what we say and do affects those around us. Thanks for sharing at Good Morning Mondays. Blessings
I loved this post. It made me again focus on the fact that in my life no act stands alone. We sometimes think that our actions effect no one else but us and this is so untrue. I will go about my day thinking anew about how what I do or say effects others. Blessings 11111
Great reminder! I am a big follower of “paying it forward” and love to hear stories of others helping each other out.
This is a beautiful concept. I have always loved that movie, Pay it Forward. Thank you for sharing this reminder 🙂
Pay it Forward was an eye-opening movie for me too, but that wave really is possible with a single act and I love that JES. ~TxH~
What a wonderful reminder. Sometimes it’s hard to see that our actions and attitudes affect others, but they do. Thanks for sharing at Simple Lives Thursday!
I agree Angi, but it’s especially important to know that you sometimes don’t even know someone is watching. ~TxH~
Indeed what a great reminder. Thank you for sharing and encouraging.
It is amazing how those random acts of kindness will come back on you. Our goal everyday should be to make someone else smile. I was having a rough morning one day a few weeks ago and had stopped for gas, as I was filling the tank the man at the pump next to me said hello and complimented me …at first I laughed it off, said thank you and went about getting my gas. Once I got back on my way I started to think how he was just trying to be nice and how much that little hello had meant to me. That event changed my whole day and I was able to pass that random act of kindness on to a co-worker when I got to work…so it made a full circle that all start with a hello!
I agree Tracy. And like I said, when you touch someone else it changes their outlook for the day and allows them to pass it on. It’s easy to do too, it just takes slowing down from this busy life of ours. ~TxH~
I think we could change the world if we followed the advice in your post!
Indeed Lucy, and what a wonderful world it would be! ~TxH~
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”… World sure could use a whole lot more of it. Thank you for the reminder.
I have to remind myself sometimes Karen. In the hustle & bustle for our fast-paced world it seems to get forgotten… ~TxH~