Words of Encouragement

Haven’t we all, at 1 time or the other, been encouraged by someone’s words? I am not talking about just the phrases of generalized praise, instead I am talking about personalized words said to you or written to you in a context of what you have done. We, as human beings, love to feel good and it is human nature to be encouraged by positive words. All the better if the encouragement comes from a close friend or family member, nonetheless it feels good to be acknowledged even if not by your close knit circle.

So what are words of encouragement? Why to use words of encouragement? We know by experience that positive thoughts and words can make a huge difference. A little kid may just laugh more when praised through positive reinforcement & a colleague can go an extra mile for you if you’ve been supportive and encouraging. All of us benefit from positivity, encouragement and hope.

So in these times of uncertainty and gloom, the least we can do is spread cheer and hope. Social distancing is going to stay here for some more time to come, but we can always encourage people even if we are not next to them. Social media is so powerful- although we may not be physically next to others, we are all connected to each other in one way or the other. We may be in group chats, video calls, weekly Zoom meetings (for pleasure not business, mind you), daily messaging, or social media platforms ( FB, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Snapchat, Tiktok). Thus we have the ability and power to encourage people on a daily basis. And that is so powerful!

Background

In Education, teachers know to reach every student on a daily basis. Educators know how to use positive reinforcement and immediate feedback, to motivate students to do their best. In great classrooms and school settings positivity, encouragement, praise and constructive feedback are strategies used on a daily basis. In fact, one way to know about great school culture is to see how safe, comfortable, and encouraged students, teachers and other stakeholders feel in their school buildings.

Research suggests that a healthy school culture has the following characteristics:

• Physical Safety. The physical environment must be safe, and welcoming, and must support learning.
• Social Relationships. The school must encourage positive communication and interaction among students, teachers, and the wider community.
• Emotional Environment. Students must feel emotionally supported to encourage high self-esteem and a sense of belonging.
• Academic Support. The academic environment must be conducive to learning and achievement for all students.

Words of encouragement are the basis for the above characteristics, and we can use the same characteristics for success in our everyday life. In a family, kids can be encouraged to do their best and there would be love and respect when positive words are exchanged between family members. Communication is vital for any situation, be it home, work, social circle or community events.

Thoughts

Everyone can be encouraged & we can make a big difference by saying a small word of praise. We can never be in another person’s shoes, and know what all they may be going through in their lives; but saying positive things and having this habit to see positive traits in another person can make a huge difference in their lives and most importantly in our own. When we change our attitude, and firmly believe that there is good in every person and start looking for that in every person we encounter in life, imagine what it can do to us and others around us. Life is a journey, and wouldn’t it be fun to spend it with people by acknowledging their positives instead of bringing the worst by talking about their negatives? If we see positive, and spread positive, we get positive. This, I believe, is how the cycle of life goes on!

So in these times of being stuck at home and practicing social distancing, we still have the ability to spread positivity and cheer daily by just saying a positive word to every one we talk to. We can all try this for a day, and see how that goes. I am hopeful this exercise may just get us to love our life more by making it beautiful with positive thoughts, empathy and love for everyone around us.

I am sharing here some positive notes which I have received at work that I cherish and hold close to heart! They encourage me to continue doing my best, and work hard.

What can we do?

If you see an act of kindness, spread the news! Let the world be known for all the good deeds that go unnoticed. Start small- if you see your child being nice to their siblings, their neighbor- praise them & acknowledge that you see it. Positive reinforcement makes a lasting impression on everyone especially young minds. Start your day with a positive thought; once a week or so try to have a day where you only say good things & ignite the positivity around you; ignore negativity , just for a day but do it! I have this friend who always compliments me, all of her friends, when we meet once a month or so. She always looks for, & finds, positive thing to say to us, whether it be about an accessory, dress, our home, our kids- but such a nice small gesture of saying good about everyone around her!

In one of my earlier blog posts, I wrote about nagging & how I succumb to it too but then let us try to do this instead with our kids: encourage them by saying 1-2 good things they have done, I am sure they have, if we take the time to find it. It can be as simple as praising them when they enjoyed and thanked you for the lunch you made for them , completing their homework in record time, playing with their sibling without fighting & involving you!

Conclusion

Life has so many beautiful things to offer us, our family, on a daily basis. We just need to change our attitude & start looking for it! This is a reminder for me to have my own journal where I am able to jot down the good I see in people around me! Words of encouragement can make a huge difference around us and it is so easy to do. I want us all to encourage someone with the power of our words!

Dear readers, please share how you try to spread positivity or use words of encouragement around you. You can comment below, or send an email to nishtha@dawnandhope.com