The Light that Others See

Yesterday, I talked to a good friend about The Encouragement Project and the challenge of growing it.

I told her that I thought I needed to work on the website (I do), but she reflected that this wasn’t the actual priority that I thought it was.

She noted that the articles and the conversations with new people were more important right now – and she helped redirect my attention to something that I had completely missed.

A big part of encouragement is your ability to shine the light in places where others cannot see.

It’s typical to think that encouragement is a hearty pat on the back when, in truth, it is a profound way of living that once you start understanding the parts, becomes a lifelong practice. As you get better and better at raising your awareness and shining your own light on the ab’ abilities, you receive a bigger reward than any gift you can imagine.

You probably won’t know that you might have saved a life, a career, a business, a marriage, or a family, but these are the stakes you are playing for, practicing, practicing.

Many studies have shown that although we work to make the best salary possible, it isn’t the salary that most people place at the top of their lists as the most important attributes in their jobs.

It turns out that it’s appreciation, a feeling of belonging to something bigger, a workplace that is respectful of those who work in it.

How often do we forget to appreciate the smallest act?

How often do we miss thanking someone for that birthday card, the email, the note?

I know I’m the poster child for those things, even though I try hard not to be.

What I do know, for sure, is that when I work on being present in the conversation, I am often given the awareness that I can reflect in positive ways on others.

We may not look it, but we all have fragile hearts that can be broken at any time in a flash. Some breaks can be repaired relatively quickly, but others may take years or more than a lifetime to heal.

Encouragement is a kind of power that anyone can develop. The more you do it, the better you get. The more you use the skills o, the more you help others to flourish. It’s a lifelong practice in creating joy for yourself and others.