As the article title implies, I’d like to talk to you about a brand new virus that every individual you know would benefit from being infected by.

Of course, when a person is infected with a virus, two things are generally true. ONE - they show nearly identical symptoms to the individual who infected them. TWO - It won’t take too long before they will very likely infect numerous others with precisely the same virus, thereby causing them to display very similar symptoms all over again. These two viral characteristics are precisely what I’d like to discuss with you here regarding a brand new virus that has the potential to “heal the world” (or at least a large part of it).

The “Paying it Forward” Virus

Chances are you’ve likely heard the phrase “pay it forward” at least once in your life. The fact that this phrase is so widely recognized is likely due to you having seen or heard of a movie that came out nearly 10 years ago, bringing the book “Pay it Forward” to the big screen. In the movie (and the book that preceded it), the phrase “Pay it Forward” was meant to mean that an individual should, when a good deed was done for them, pay it FORWARD to three new people, as opposed to paying it BACK.

However, this “paying it forward” ideal is nowhere near new (nor was it when the book was authored). It actually pre-dates even the well respected Ben Franklin who described “paying it forward” with the following words:

“I do not pretend to give such a Sum; I only lend it to you. When you […”> meet with another honest Man in similar Distress, you must pay me by lending this Sum to him; enjoining him to discharge the Debt by a like operation, when he shall be able, and shall meet with another opportunity. I hope it may thus go thro’ many hands, before it meets with a Knave that will stop its Progress. This is a trick of mine for doing a deal of good with a little money.”

It is also useful to understand, in my opinion, that “paying it forward” shouldn’t always have to involve the giving of money or doing physical labor, although, in many cases, it does. A much simpler approach to “paying it forward” is explained in detail on my new website WhyTheCards.com, but here is the premise of the site (and the vision) in brief.

Appreciation and Encouragement Can Make a BIG Impact

Back in the early 1900s, Andrew Carnegie needed someone to head up the newly formed United States Steel Company. To fill the important position, he chose Charles Schwab and offered him a starting salary of $1,000,000 per year or approximately $3,000 per DAY (during a period when $3,000/YEAR would have been an excellent wage).

By Schwab’s own testimony, he was offered this tremendously hefty salary because he knew how to appreciate people and draw out their best qualities.

Said Schwab, “I consider my ability to arouse enthusiasm among my people the greatest asset I possess, and the way to develop the best that is in a person is by appreciation and encouragement.”

The entire premise of WhyTheCards.com is to use that powerful idea of recognizing and appreciating people’s gifts and apply it in a really simple manner which can quickly “infect” dozens, hundreds, thousands or even millions of individuals and convert them into chronic encouragers, always looking for new ways to affirm and uplift the people around them.

As Quick as Sending a Card

The vast majority of people would likely be surprised to discover what a positive impact a simple card can have on an individual who has just had a ridiculously hard day or is wrestling with a serious personal or family tragedy - or even on someone who’s just had an exceptionally good day. As an example, just a note to point out something special about their personality that really makes them stand out. Thank them for something unselfish they did for you or someone you know. Congratulate them for a recent promotion or just tell them you’ve been praying for them.

You could even send a card to suggest that you’d like to get together for lunch this Saturday or to encourage them not to make dinner this Tuesday since you’ll be bringing it over to them. Even better, use your postcard as a way to encourage them to pay the good deed forward and help someone else. As unlikely as it may seem, helping another person is often one of the best ways to make YOURSELF feel better (although that should never be your primary motivation for helping).

Most people could use a reminder that they are truly special and have value and that they have talents that not a single other person has which could be used to help people. No matter how old or young they are, how sick they might happen to be, how difficult their life is right now, how many screw-ups they have under their belt, they STILL have alot to offer, but nobody will know that unless they actually offer it. It need not even take alot of time or cost alot of money to encourage someone. A very simple card can mean the world and might be just what the doctor ordered.