“I can live for two months on a good compliment.” – Mark Twain
Words are powerful. They can create or they can destroy. They have the power to chart new direction in someone’s life. The words that you speak today can offer encouragement and positive thoughts to another human being. Or your words can send them further into despair. So choose them carefully.
Encouraging words build up the lives around us. And as you affirm others you will benefit. People who express heartfelt encouragement to others find it easier to express gratitude, feel joy and achieve success themselves. Today, go out of your way to positively affirm these three people:
- A family member. Words spoken by those who know us best and love us the most are the most powerful. They have the greatest potential for good or harm. If you want your child to turn out well, pull them aside, compliment them, and tell them why they make you proud. A short conversation now can have unbelievable, long-range benefits in the future. But our need to hear affirming words doesn’t end when we turn 18. So remind your spouse why you love him/her. Or tell your parents how much you appreciate them. Make the call today.
- A co-worker. Many of our co-workers live tragic lives at home. They smile on the outside, but only to hide the pain on the inside. Build them up. Be liberal with your praise. Send an e-mail. Write a short note. Offer an unsolicited compliment. Speak health and well-being into another’s life. You may have no idea how desperately it needed to be heard…
- Yourself. Don’t forget yourself. We need to hear powerful words of affirmation as much as anybody else. Remember that you have the power over your own thoughts – choose to make them positive. Speak kind words to yourself today and build up your own being and spirit. You may just begin charting a brand new path.
I am a fan of simplicity. I encourage others to eliminate the unneeded things from their lives… but positive words cannot be on that list. Too many people are counting on you.
Yes, we all need encouragement: And today I ask for your encouragement to us for our daily Christian Walk where we try to encourage others. Could you all just pray for us? To go on?
Everyone loves to be kind encouraged, praised and affirmed
I like your web site. Check out http://www.NeedEncouragement.com and link up to us.
Bill Greguska
Words are powerful forces in our lives. People often vividly remember words of honest encouragement they heard during childhood. We can each bless those around us by offering positive, spontaneous encouragement!
thanks for the tips
I’m glad I found your website–I hope it’s OK if I add a link on mine (whatsthebestthatcanhappen.blogspot.com)
I really like this post. I think we forget how easy it is to boost someone else up and how much of a difference it can make to them…and ourselves!
Encouragement is a little offering which has huge benefits for the person giving it as well as receiving, it’s such a simple way to help others, but it appears to be one of the hardest things to give out. Someone who offers encouragement generously has a high level of civility, and in my opinion civility is one of the most important skills to be learned in life.
In Asian communities lack of praise is also prevalent. When I first came to Britain for my university studies, I was suddenly flattered by all the praise coming from my lecturers and fellow coursemates. I think I learn better under these circumstances instead of constantly being criticized as would be the case back in my home country. We asian families also have this way of thinking that too much praise would spoil a child, so praise was a rare event in my family. Looking back I think I would perhaps have been motivated to do better by constant praise instead of criticism, but then again it is difficult to change an entire community’s way of thinking overnight.
If I praised one child, the other felt unworthy.
Yeah, we need to eliminate useless and harmfull words from our everyday speech. Exessive talk and junk talk just weighs us down.
A few well chosen words are beter than verbal diarrhea
I agree with your comment!
I can’t tolerate conversation that rambles on and on about absolutely nothing.
Or repetitive information that could have been stated in a short phrase.
A kind word is a beautiful thing. People who have never received praise and encouragement have a difficult time giving it. Interesting, as it is something the world needs most. Fantastic post. Thanks
I quite agree, French teachers usually think that words of praise will spoil children. It was also the case in my family as my parents were both teachers. I was 16 when I first went to Great Britain and was amazed how parents spoke and encouraged their children.
I am a teacher too and I must aknowledge I have to struggle with my natural tendency ( even when marking exams, we substract according to mistakes instead of marking good points !). In business, it is quite similar too.
It’s easier to see what’s wrong than what’s right?
I love the quote you included by Mark Twain.
Here in France, there seems to be a cultural difference that makes people more likely to offer criticism (usually objective and with the hope of being helpful) and less likely to offer praise. I love living in France and enjoy the culture, but this is an aspect I certainly struggle with.
A few kind words do go a long way.
Why does everyone need constant praise? I prefer to see what others see in me and learn from it.