Encouragement

Encouragement is powerful. It lifts sagging spirits, nudges one to action, and is a great motivator. This past week has been difficult for me. I’ll spare you the details, but it involved a family member and memory care. Even though the week was full of challenges, it was full of compassionate, wonderful people and that is what I choose to focus on today.

Sagging Spirits

Whether in your writing practice or in daily life, a little encouragement goes a long way. Pressure to perform, indecision, and a feeling of worthlessness dampens the spirit. A kind word, a suggestion that leads to solutions, or a gentle reminder that, as Jesse Jackson said, “You are somebody,” puts you in the right frame of mind to conquer whatever challenge you are facing. Writing is a solitary practice. It is imperative that we seek out encouragers.

Nudge to Action

How many of you have been paralyzed by feelings of inadequacy? Without encouragement, that little voice in your head gathers steam until you start to believe you’re not good enough, or your premise is unbelievable, or you just can’t pull off whatever you’re trying to accomplish. But with encouragement, anything is possible.

Encouragement comes in many forms. This past week, I had not only a personal cheerleader telling me I could accomplish my goal, but many other people praised my efforts as well. Those verbal accolades bolstered my resolve to do what I set out to do. Today, I’m experiencing a different kind of encouragement at the library quietly writing with three others. The room is silent as each writer is engrossed in their project. The tacit support from this random group of writers is invaluable. It tells me I am doing something important, something worth doing. The encouragement I feel from Quiet Writing Time at the Library is my nudge to action. The rest of the world falls away and I write.

Encouragement as Motivator

So, I implore you, dear reader, take a moment to share a kind word, ask what your fellow writer is working on, or write a review for that book you just read. Seek out opportunities to encourage others. I am so thankful people encouraged me last week during a challenging time.

Share in the comments below a time encouragement helped you accomplish a personal or writing goal.