It has been said that "Man can live about 40 days without food, about 3 days without water, about 8 minutes without air, but only for 1 second without hope."
Encouragement is the hope we give another about who they really are and what they can truly accomplish. It is the vision of another person that builds relationships, strengthens and bonds families, causes teams to rise to their greatest potential, and brings new life and achievement on any corner of the globe where it is found.
Even a man who accomplished as much, and overcame as much adversity, as President Abraham Lincoln needed encouragement. At the time of his assassination, the contents of his pocket were: a pocket knife, a watch fob, a brown leather wallet, a five dollar bill, two pairs of gold-rimmed spectacles and eight newspaper clippings showing positive portrayals of his leadership. Even a man as great as what many people view Lincoln to be, needed encouragement and the reminder that he was doing the right thing and making a difference.
Encouragement can:
Create new hope
Inspire perseverance
Be the highlight of someone's day
Cast vision for what can be accomplished
Build self-esteem
Generate new energy and effort
Cause the person who is encouraged to also encourage others
Recall past successes as building blocks of future successes
Simple ways to encourage others:
Notice the contributions they make and mention them
Show appreciation for the intentions behind the actions
Recognize strengths, gifts and abilities in others and bring attention to them
Create opportunities and ideas of how strengths can be used to further make a significant difference
Applaude their successes in front of others
Remind of the good that has come as a result of their attitudes and efforts
Ask questions and then listen, to gain better understanding- people work best when they feel understood and valued
"Everyone has inside them a piece of good news. The good news is you don't know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is."
–Anne Frank
With the right encouragement, the sky is the limit for all of us! Encourage someone today!
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