Encouragement
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Encouragement always holds more motivational power than criticism. By focusing on the positives, someone can happily be motivated to do something, instead of being shamed or browbeaten into it. Encouragement can run the gamut from a gentle pat on the back to a full-on bear hug, but the bottom line is that it's emotionally constructive, rather than destructive.
Literally, encourage means "to come along side of." If we intend to encourage others, we must come along side of them and either urge them onward, or caution them that taking something upon themselves is not in their best interests. People will more readily accept either encouragement or warnings if they know that you admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, assist the weak and extend patience and kindness to everyone.
When we encourage others, we inspire them to have faith in themselves, as well as faith in a higher power that's guiding them. When someone you respect repeatedly tells you that you can do something, you'll start believing it too. When someone is encouraging, it can draw out the potential that's within others. People can attain amazing achievements if they know that others believe in them.
Conversely, if someone says something such as, "You big dummy -- why can't you get this right?" accompanied by grumbles, eye rolls and heavy sighs, that's negative motivation. Sure, it will motivate people, but for the wrong reasons. They'll be motivated to not be a failure and to avoid looking like a loser, rather than positively believing they're worthwhile people who hold within themselves unlimited potential that just needs to be unfurled.
If we are going to effectively encourage others, it's vital that we maintain a positive attitude. When you encourage someone by pushing them beyond what they think they can do, you must do so with a positivity. You must look for the best in people and extend grace to the worst -- because even the worst may be a butterfly, that, with positive encouragement, can be coaxed out of its cocoon.
We should always be striving for others to have a stronger faith, in God, as well as in themselves. We must be certain that we are investing ourselves in other people in order to help and guide them. Even from behind prison walls, Paul was trying to help and encourage others.
William Arthur Ward was credited as saying, "Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you." People always appreciate others who act as kind, encouraging mentors to them.
When a person is struggling, or they need to be challenged to do something outside of their conventional realm of ability, they need encouragement. When you have children who are making those first attempts at walking, they need encouragement.
And when someone is struggling with their faith, they need someone to tell them that they're not worthless, and that they're not going to hell for questioning their own belief system. When you are with other Christians who are struggling, it's not only important for you to constructively point out what they are doing incorrectly, but that you also give them plenty of encouragement not to give up.
No matter how modest a person's successes are, be sure to profusely praise them and encourage them to keep forging onward to even bigger and better achievements. You can even tell them that big accomplishments are gained through a series of small accomplishments, and that those little stepping stones should be celebrated each time one is reached. Someone may very well be overwhelmed if they're pressured to immediately attain a big accomplishment, so it's better to allow them to reach their destination in a series of baby steps -- and to be sure that those baby steps are commended.
Although a false sense of pride may make it hard to admit, everyone needs a boost of encouragement at one time or another. When we do this for another person, it's as though we're actually filling that person up with courage. Encouragement can empower people with the strength to look ahead with eager anticipation, to forge ahead, and to strive for the next goal. A difficult situation's emotional tone can be transformed and recast in a much brighter light through the positive force of encouragement.
We all need support through encouragement. Now and then we need someone to tell us that everything will turn out okay. At times we also need someone to tug us back from the darkness bred by the misgivings and harsh thoughts of our own minds. Surround yourself with people who encourage you to be an even better version of yourself.
Some people offer encouragement very energetically. They may exude abundant and enthusiastic praise, give bear hugs, or whoop, holler and applaud. Others may extend encouragement in ways that are more subtle, but just as heartfelt: a gentle smile, a soft touch on the arm, or a caring word. The form encouragement takes doesn't matter, because it's infused with the incredible potential to elevate a person's spirits while assisting them in remaining focused upon their goals.
The immense power of words is well-known. Words can be used to break you, or to cut you down like the blade of a sword. Once spoken, words cannot be taken back, and can sometimes hurt worse than the physical pain of a punch to the face. The old saying of "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me," is actually untrue, because words have immense power to hurt and wound. When used with positivity, however, and delivered with love and encouragement, they give hope to the recipient.
There's no limit to the great heights people can reach when others believe in them and encourage them.
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