7 Minute Pledge

The “7 Minute Pledge” is a program of aswedoLife® that encourages individuals to spend 7 minutes each day to share with others, to encourage others, and to compliment others in a positive and supportive manner.

This pledge does not involve money, only 7 minutes of your time each day to help make someone else’s day a little more fulfilled. Seven (7) minutes a day may not sound like much, but its accumulated effect can be enormous. Only 7 minutes per day equals 40 hours per year. Think how many people you can touch in a year’s time. Then think how many of those people will want to pay-it-forward.

Can we change the world in 7 minutes? Yes, you can!

Listed below are ways you can spend 7 minutes each day to make a difference in someone’s life:

In Person:

Compliment a stranger
Compliment a friend
Encourage an acquaintance
Take time to share with someone who has no friends
Take time to share with someone who is struggling

"I COULD USE A LITTLE
ENCOURAGEMENT MYSELF!"

Online:

Post positive comments on authors’ stories on www.aswedoLife.com
Contact aswedoLife® authors to share, compliment, and encourage
Post positive comments & URLs from aswedoLife® stories on your Facebook page.
Post positive comments on Facebook & develop “7 Minute Pledge” friends
Post positive comments & URLs from aswedoLife® stories on your Twitter page.
Post positive comments on Twitter & develop “7 Minute Pledge” followers
Become friends and/or followers of aswedoLife® on Facebook & Twitter
Text or phone someone to give encouragement and/or compliments "WHERE IS SOMEONE WHEN
I NEED THEM?"

USE YOUR IMAGINATION:

Create other ways you can make someone’s day a little more fulfilling.

The 30-Day Challenge

Yes, I would like to accept the "30-Day Challenge" and make the "7-Minute Pledge" part of my lifestyle for 30 days. At the end of the 30 days, I agree to share with aswedoLife® what effect, if any, this act of kindness activity has had on me, and if I intend to make the "7 Minute Pledge" a lifelong goal.

I ACCEPT

Share Your 30-Day Experience

Posted on Thursday, December 31, 2009 by Doug

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31 comments (Add your own)

1. Jayne wrote:: This was tougher than I thought! When I'm out and about, I see instances where I can help out someone, but I don't always do it. I can certainly improve in this area! But making comments on people's stories on the website is easy. Maybe it's easier because I'm not actually making contact with someone. This is something to ponder!
December 31, 2009 @ 12:24 PM
2. Doug wrote:: I have completed the 30-day challenge and am surprised at how much more effective I am when I make an effort everyday to share, compliment, or encourage another. This experience has helped me be more aware of my actions, and, yes, I want the 7 Minute Pledge to be my lifelong goal.
January 8, 2010 @ 12:37 PM
3. Lynn wrote:: My whole attitude has changed. I am surprised how much better I feel about sharing a compliment, etc. To see that gratitude in others is my gift. Yes, the 7 Min. Pledge is my goal.
January 10, 2010 @ 2:09 PM
4. Al wrote:: The minute I saw this 7 Minute Pledge thing I knew I was in. You bet, it's a lifer.
January 10, 2010 @ 2:41 PM
5. Kamie wrote:: I accepted the 30-day challenge for the month of Dec. I was able to grow in my awareness in how I interact with others. It was good for me to see if my presence had a positive, negative or neutral effect on people around me or the situation at hand. I think this 30-day challenge is a great way to heighten awareness and become more intentional in our actions. We must be also aware of our motives behind our actions. Do we compliment and encourage to be a "better person" or to fill our commitment to a challenge or is our focus more outward than inward and we are reacting to a true caring for others. Something to contemplate.
January 10, 2010 @ 3:04 PM
6. cindy rae wrote:: My first 30 day pledge ended today. I found it uplifting, humbling, yet very private. I just "clicked in" for another 30 day stint ... 'nuff said.
January 11, 2010 @ 5:52 PM
7. Lauri wrote:: I had trouble doing it every day, but this 30 day trip has certainly made me think and be more aware of my actions. I'm going to keep trying.
January 13, 2010 @ 12:20 PM
8. Alli wrote:: This has been a very rewarding experience for me. I didn,t realize how many people can be touched with only 7 minutes of effert each day. I've shared the 7 minute pledge with two others and they have now started the challenge. I'm having fun and will keep doing it.
January 15, 2010 @ 9:54 AM
9. Monica K. wrote:: My daughter is learning to drive. In this arena, I have discovered that sometimes encouragement involves saying nothing
January 18, 2010 @ 12:33 PM
10. Monica K. wrote:: A writing teacher I admire was in the business of encouragement. We bared our souls in her living room every Monday night by reading our homework out loud. Some people in the class were writing about emotional struggles and scarring events from childhood. It was sensitive work. Carolyn always had something positive and sincere to say about each offering.
January 18, 2010 @ 12:43 PM
11. Cherry Moore wrote:: I spent my first Seven Minutes writing an email to an author whose book I have admired for ten years. I didn't know if I had a valid email or even if he were still alive, but I sent it anyway. The next day I received a reply from him!

The book, by the way, is Light in the Shadows: Living with Life-Threatening Illness by Hank Dunn.

Thank you, As We Do Life, for the encouragement I needed to write that email.
January 20, 2010 @ 7:17 AM
12. Trish Hamlin wrote:: Being asked to commit to something meaningful always seems to give a nudge to my soul.
This being said, I had to agree to this pledge of 7 daily minutes dedicated to thinking of others and their needs.

Everyday was different as it brought new and interesting people in and out of my life. Simple things like listening more to neighbors and friends seemed to be the most worthwhile way to show my encouragement and support. It really led me to see how different each person's life was compared to mine, yet how similar we were in our simple humanity. Surprisingly too, many blessings came from this activity, yet overlooking them might have been easy enough. A beautiful smile out of nowhere, a neighbor ringing my bell to let me know I left my purse out on the car of the driveway, Christmas gifts galore!
These are only a few to name. And the list continues as I pledge to live out this lifestyle!
January 20, 2010 @ 8:01 PM
13. Mia wrote:: Trish, your comment has motivated me to do the 30 day challenge. Thanks!
February 4, 2010 @ 4:25 PM
14. Andy wrote:: I accepted the 30 day challenge for one reason--to see how I was dealing with my own family. I have a wife and 3 children that need and deserve my best. At first my actions were somewhat forced, but as the 30 days went by I became more comfortable and natural. Giving a compliment or encouragement everyday to family members was challenging, but very rewarding. This exersize has allowed me to develope habits that serve me and my family much better. Maybe the biggest developement was seeing our children complimenting and encouraging each other more often. This 7 minute pledge idea has certainly worked for me and I just hope I don't "fall off the wagon" into my old habits.
February 5, 2010 @ 2:39 PM
15. Peterson Family wrote:: We did the 7 minute pledge as a family. At the end of each we shared our experiences. This got to be a game of fun. We voted and we will continue.
February 6, 2010 @ 1:47 PM
16. Tarak wrote:: This is food for the soul. Sounds like something Jesus would have had his followers do. Go and help make someones day a little better, everday.
February 6, 2010 @ 5:50 PM
17. Derek wrote:: I have always tried to do something like the 7 minute pledge so the 30 day challenge was easy for me. I introduced this to some fellow office workers amd two are doing the 30 day challenge now. We'll see...
February 7, 2010 @ 4:06 PM
18. Tammy wrote:: I am a very shy person and have a real problem talking to people. Does anyone have any ideas how I can participate? I really like this idea.
February 10, 2010 @ 9:38 AM
19. Doug wrote:: Tammy you are not alone. Karen said she finally got nerve to compliment another person and it went so well that she is going to try it again. Another way to compliment and encourage others is to comment with encouraging words those that have shared stories with www.aswedolife.com. Give something a try---I think you'll be surprised.
February 10, 2010 @ 3:11 PM
20. Karen wrote:: It wasn't difficult for me prior to the 7 minute pledge to compliment or encourage others although I didn't do it as often as I should have. However being a part of the 7 minute pledge makes we aware that I should seize the moment as it arises. Previously I noticed my "self talk" suggesting that I should have taken the opportunity to compliment or encourge, not just wishing that I would have done so. Now I'm even more aware of opportunities and act on them.
February 14, 2010 @ 11:08 PM
21. Angie wrote:: Tammy, I share your feelings about being shy. For this reason I send thank you and encouragement cards to family and friends. This is easier for me than in person. Just a thought.
February 15, 2010 @ 1:37 PM
22. Allyson SWOSU wrote:: When I first agreed to the 7-minute-pledge, I was so excited. To be honest, I thought it would be easy. I felt like I was a nice person and I said and did nice things. As the first week passed, I had realized the nice things I commonly did; I was doing for the wrong reason. I just wanted people to think that I was nice. I realized that many things I had done weren't to help improve someone's day, it was too make me look good. That was a very humbling day for me. Since then I have tried to do a good thing, for the right reason, and I could see that I visibly brightened someone's day.. and it only took ONE minute.
February 22, 2010 @ 4:43 PM
23. Farra wrote:: I failed, but I'm tryng again.
February 25, 2010 @ 9:35 AM
24. Mia wrote:: As I have said before, I did the 30 day pledge because of the comment from Trish Hamlin and how it made her feel. I just finished my 30 days but really I am just starting. This isn't a 30 day challenge,this is a lifestyle that I want to really develope. I really got upset with myself a time or two for missing opportunities to say something that would be meaningful to another. I guess what I really learned the most was how our actions can really make a difference in someone elses life. Likewise, when someone gave me a compliment or just took some time to share with me I realized how important that was to me and really made me want to pass-it-on. I am grateful!
March 3, 2010 @ 4:36 PM
25. Bob wrote:: Hi, Three of us did the 30 day challenge in our office. It was a blast. We had so much fun. We changed the whole atmosphere in our office. Before, everyone was kinda on an island, just doing their own work and not really caring to much how others were doing. I never realized how powerful a compliment or encouragement can be. Our supervisor even noticed that there was a difference and asked what was going on. At first we acted dumb like we hadn't noticed anything different. We really had him going for awhile but finaly told him. He couldn't believe such a little thing like a compliment could make such a difference. We.ve been noticing that he is starting to compliment us more in our work. This stuff is contagious. The moral of the story is--if you want to receive you must first give.
March 15, 2010 @ 1:32 PM
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March 18, 2010 @ 7:59 AM
27. Jamie wrote:: At first I thought the 7 minute pledge was an insult. Who couldn't spend 7 minutes a day helping someone else have a better day. Wow! I didn't realize how much time I spend on me and my well being. This really hurt me seeing how I was living life for me. What an eye opener! I'm not their yet but I'm getting better. This 7 minute pledge thing has really helped me and I highly recommend everyone to just give it a try--I think you will be surprised.
March 29, 2010 @ 12:29 PM
28. Laura wrote:: I really like this 7 minute pledge format, but I really need to thank my parents for the way they brought me up. They taught me to always show respect and honor to other people regardless of whether I approved or disagreed with their actions or values.I cannot remember a time when I heard them say anything negative about someone else. I am 57 years old now and my parents have passed-on and I find myself in need of some encouragement.
About a month ago I was entering a coffee shop when a rather shabby person approched me for a handout. We visited briefly-I gave him encouragement and handed him $5.00. He thanked me and I went on in the coffee shop. That's when I was literaly attached verbally by two men who abviously saw what I did. Most of what they said is not repeatable. They reprimanded me for helping "The Scum Of The Earth" and encouraging that kind in our society. They told me that my actions will only encourage "that kind" in our country. Most in the coffee shop heard what was said. I was so embarrassed and almost in tears and just left the place. I haven't been back since.
I know these kind of people are not the majority but there does seem to be more and more saying some really bad things about other people and this is really scary. I wish I had my parents to lean on , but I know I must move-on. I really appreciate what aswedolife and other organizations are doing to promote kindness and encouraging others. Thanks, I need you.
April 12, 2010 @ 5:48 PM
29. Sandi wrote:: We are a home-schooling family. Two months ago we decided to use the "7 Minute Pledge" format as part of our schooling for our children. As part of our 3 children's assignment, they were to offer encouragement or support to another member of our family on a daily basis. This really went well, in fact the children were actually doing a better job than their parents. One morning this really hit home. I was having a rough morning getting around and was really getting behind. I didn't have time to do my face and hair before schooling started. Our youngest saw my frustration and said "Mommy, I really like your hair when it is all messed up". Tears came to my eyes as a thanked her and gave her a big hug. That really made my day.
That event that morning has really helped our family become less judgemental and more understanding of others. Who says we can't learn from our children.
April 23, 2010 @ 8:14 PM
30. Dan wrote:: I just struggled through the 30 days challenge and find I really have to watch that I don't act just to make me feel good. I'm getting better but it is not natural yet. Maybe in time.
May 8, 2010 @ 2:53 PM
31. Susie wrote:: I have really been practicing encouraging other as I come in contact with them. So often we tend to want to find fault in others and this really serves no good for the other person. The seven minute pledge idea has helped me to be more positive with others and a lot less judgemental. I am feeling a lot better about myself as I see good in others.
June 8, 2010 @ 3:42 PM

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