Six Ways to Encourage Others
What is encouragement?
Encouragement is the act of giving someone support, confidence, or hope and they can have a powerful effect on the individual. When we feel supported, it sends little signals to our brains that make us feel confident, happy, and worthwhile. Individuals feeling doubt about themselves or a situation can suddenly have the strength they otherwise may not have found. Pretty cool that this all can stem from a few kind words or gestures!
Six Ways to Encourage Others
To fully understand how someone may need support, listening to what they are saying is important. Don't just smile and nod your head. Actively listen by allowing the individual to speak first, then show you were listening by asking questions related to the conversation or offering your own antidotes and experiences that empathize with their situation. Who knows, maybe listening is all they needed.
Be an active listener
To fully understand how someone may need support, listening to what they are saying is important. Don't just smile and nod your head. Actively listen by allowing the individual to speak first, then show you were listening by asking questions related to the conversation or offering your own antidotes and experiences that empathize with their situation. Who knows, maybe listening is all they needed.
Does this person really want encouragement?
Being a good listener also means interpreting the situation correctly. Sometimes an individual may make it seem like they are asking for encouragement, but in reality, they just want to vent and express themselves. Afterward, think about ways you can offer support and encouragement.
Share a quote
We all have a secret Pinterest folder filled with quotes and images that inspire us waiting to be used. Scroll through and find something applicable to the situation or even from that person's favorite artist, author, actor, athlete, etc. Sometimes people relate deeper or feel inspired by individuals they admire.
Send a gift
Who doesn't like to receive a gift? Gifts help us feel appreciated, and can even inspire us when sent in the right context. Flowers can help us feel happy in a dark or sad place, whereas a good luck charm like a bracelet or a sports jersey from their favorite athlete can give them confidence.
Follow up
After your friend had their job interview, follow up after. See how it went. Remind them they felt great going into it and to keep their hopes high. Maybe they already started that new job. If so, engage in conversation and see how it is going. When you come back to the situation in which they needed encouragement, showing your interest in their feelings can help them continue to feel encouraged and supported.
Help build up others by sharing some encouragement today!
Written by: Danielle Shulman
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