26 Oct Encouragement for All

How do we truly encourage someone?

How do we allow it in?

Sometimes it can be as challenging to encourage someone as it is to receive it.

Whatever the case, it’s an endeavor certainly worth more than one attempt, as the rewards are great.

Personally, I’ve vowed to relentlessly bring flurries of positivity and encouragement to my beloved friends and family.

Many failures have happened to bring the intended joy to others, but when axe finally strikes gold, the riches are plentiful.

Gratitude is in abundance. The light fills us up.

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Encourage can be defined as,

“To give someone support, courage or hope.”

Sometimes it’s helpful to simplify or break down a complex word like encourage to its smaller components, en and courage.

By isolating the word courage, it’s apparent that our positive behavior may empower others in a literal sense. 

Can we literally give that kind of gift to someone?

After all, it’s not like buying someone a cup of coffee.

Perhaps our empowering stories, experiences and physical expressions will spark the flame to lift other people’s spirits.

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Here’s a story about self-encouragement. 

Believing in ourselves is massive.

Have you ever felt like you’re falling apart or nothing is going right in life? 

I recall during my youth, being lost, alone, confused and often afraid of the unknown.

After practicing Falun Dafa for ten years, a peaceful self-improvement practice, based on truth, compassion and tolerance, life was healthier and happier than ever.

After ten years of busy city life, being constantly surrounded by people, my lifestyle eventually shifted and became one of solitude.

Most of my time was spent alone, despite having dozens of acquaintances and some good friends.

Isolation and loneliness were serious adversaries.

It felt as though many critical elements in my life were lacking: no marriage, no career, no close family ties and a dwindling faith.

After much contemplation, a new wisdom emerged: either I lay down and give up, or, stand up and persevere.

Of course the answer was obvious.

Was this sensation hope or faith I wondered?

Had I lifted my own spirit and encouraged myself?

With renewed faith, I rocketed back into my journey of life, with renewed conviction and inner strength, later to become a website designer and President of Nine By Nine Design, proud husband and devoted Falun Dafa practitioner, since 2001.

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Sources

Oxford Learners Dictionary (2022), encourage [Online] Available: https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/english/encourage [Accessed October 25 2022]