The Power of Encouragement

Do you remember when you were a kid, and you were encouraged by someone to do something that you liked? What did the encouragement do for you? Chances are, you were given a boost of belief in yourself.

The Power of Encouragement has an amazing effect on children and adults alike. We all like to be encouraged, and supported.

If you look at the word ‘encouragement’, it contains the word ‘courage’. So, by being encouraged, you are given a boost of courage. Sometimes, courage is all that you may be seeking to accomplish a task, or to achieve a goal.
I have noticed (through my work with human potential) that people who have received encouragement are more likely to encourage others. This could be due to the effect that encouragement has had on them, so they are inclined to make others feel the effects of encouragement.

As a Life Coach, Executive Coach, and Speaker, I am often called upon by people and organisations to offer words of encouragement. My message is always the same “The first person who needs to encourage you, is you!”

That is a point that I will make until my last breath. It is of no use to receive encouragement from others, if you are lacking encouragement from yourself.

Encourage yourself first, then be open to receiving encouragement from others. Encouragement from the outside world is complimentary to self-encouragement!

Let's look at the benefits of encouraging others. As an encourager, you will not only be encouraging others, you will also be encouraging yourself at the same time. I have often noticed that when I am encouraging people, a voice inside me will say "That is great advice that I am giving. I can apply it to my life in this particular area or in a particular situation!" Whatever encouragement we give to others, rubs off on us as well.

I have a firm belief that encouraging others, gives us encouragement. There have been times when I have encouraged people, and they benefited from my encouragement. When people tell me that my encouragement towards them was helpful, I am encouraged to offer more encouragement to others.

Encouraging others has a ripple effect, and everyone around you will feel that ripple!

Inside every one of us, there is an encourager. Be it encouragement for oneself, or for others. As I mentioned earlier, everyone likes to be encouraged. So, why not give to others, what you like to receive yourself (that is encouragement). I am yet to meet a person who repels encouragement.

Right at this point, please stop reading this article, and think of one person in your life, who could benefit from receiving some encouragement. Then ask yourself “how could I possibly encourage this person?” Following on from that question, decide how you will you communicate your encouragement with this person (phone call, email, in person, sms).

Please believe me when I say this, the person that you will choose to encourage will appreciate it, on some level or another. Whether they openly express gratitude towards you or not, is up to them. Whether you encourage them or not, is entirely up to you!

So, come and join the encouragers of this world, and offer encouragement to others, and to yourself. It will take you a long way in life!

After reading this article, please ask yourself the following questions:

• When was the last time you encouraged someone?
• What did it do for you when you were encouraged by someone?
• The next time you are encouraged, will you encourage someone and return the favour?

To your goals & beyond,
Ronny K. Prasad