Photo by Elina Fairytale
Jamie’s Bookshelf has a piece about encouraging others, and it is a wonderfully relevant book—magnificently appropriate for our times: a reminder that the world can still change.
The world can be a tough place sometimes, especially when you look at the media, where everything is going down the toilet. Whenever you turn on the news, you are inundated with stories of calamities, atrocities, and general mayhem. It’s hard to stay positive and motivated amidst all of that.
Yet, it becomes even more imperative to remember that we’re all in this together, and when we reach out and link arms, we can make a difference in the world. It is important that we learn to encourage each other.
Encouragement is a powerful thing. Vague, yes, but equally impactful as it is vague. There are plenty of ways to encourage someone, but despite this myriad of ways, it is often hard to do so. This is because even though we came into this world with an encouraging heart, we forget it because the world teaches us to forget. And it is important that we teach ourselves to relearn those primal and inner lessons.
Encouragement is powerful. It can help people overcome challenges, create better communities and better families, achieve their goals, and improve the world, even if it is only for a little bit more.
Learning to Be There for People
The first step towards learning how to encourage others and yourself is to do so. While that may sound obvious, taking the first step can be quite difficult for a lot of us. Encouragement doesn’t come as naturally as it should. Precisely because we are afraid that our words and our actions will either backfire or don’t do anything.
I’m here to tell you that every bit of encouragement helps. Think of it as giving water to someone who’s been in the desert for God knows how long. Every little bit helps. With that in mind, here are some ideas to restart that encouraging spirit inside all of us:
- Be kind and supportive. Let people know you’re there for them and care about them. Offer a helping hand when needed, and listen when they need to talk.
- Offer specific praise. When someone does something good, tell them about it. Be clear about what you appreciate, and ensure they know how much their actions mean to you.
- Celebrate other people’s successes. Be happy for others when they succeed, and tell them how proud you are of them. This will help them to feel good about themselves and to keep achieving their goals.
- Be a role model. Show others how to be kind, supportive, and encouraging by being those things yourself. When you see others doing good things, follow their example and do the same.
Encouraging the World to Be A Better Place
Looping back to what was said in the first paragraph, the world is a tough place. If you say it’s a terrible one, I can even sort of sympathize with you, but that is no reason to be swallowed by the despair and the uncertainty of thinking that way.
Yes, I’ll even say it with you right now: “The world is a terrible place.”
But nothing will happen if we only mope about, ruminating about how the world is such a horrid place to be in. We made it this way, and I truly believe that we have the power to fix it if only we stick together and help each other grow to become much better people.
The Beauty of Companionship and Community
We are humans, and humans are dreadfully social creatures. The importance of community and companionship to foster mutual encouragement cannot be overstated. When we surround ourselves with people who believe in us, support us, and inspire us, we become more resilient and motivated to achieve our goals.
Being part of a community can provide a sense of belonging and purpose and serve as a source of accountability and motivation. Whether it’s a group of friends, a support group, or an online community, finding companionship in our journeys can make all the difference in staying positive and encouraged.
Jamie’s Bookshelf is all about encouraging others to become better versions of themselves and working towards a better world. If you are looking for some encouragement, definitely check her out.
The Happy Hammock 