Di Bassinga Diaries: The Importance of Encouragement

I promise you, these words you read right now would not be written down if I didn't have people around me continuously lifting me up to do so; this blog is the product of constant encouragement from just a few people. I tend to overthink ideas like these. "What if I can't get the idea across?", "what if nobody cares to read it?", "what if people do read it and it doesn't blow them away? Would this all be a waste?" To be honest with you, I'm not counting on thoughts like these making a permanent leave, but I thank God that I've got people around me -- my friends and family ("my circle" if you will, more on this idea another time) -- who will not hesitate to give me the courage I need to at least try. Just this morning I found myself in a conversation with a stranger, another believer, in a coffeeshop that had given me some much needed encouragement just to finish this post.

"Wise", "Studious", "Growth", "Collected", "Breathtaking", "Reliable", "Yes-Man" (a positive in this case, I promise), "Seeking", "Supportive", "Cozy", "Welcoming", "Teacher"; this is a list of terms that I have written as an entry in my journal, each with their own few bullet points and statements of elaboration. The list comes from the mouths of some brothers and partners of mine in Christ, we'd had an end-of-the-semester affirmations meeting and these were the terms they'd spoken over me -- my only reason in sharing this list is that these words, and many others like them spoken over me since I was a kid, have carried me throughout life, and I believe that they will continue to do so whether consciously or subconsciously. I could have named this entry "The Power of Your Words", or "Mind Your Mouth", because negative words spoken over an individual hold just as much power as the positive (if not more). However, for the purpose of this entry today, I want to focus on how to give positive encouragement, and why it is necessary that we all partake in the dealing of it as often as we can.

"So, what if I don't have people like that in your life?" I am a firm believer in the notion that, if you would like to attract positive encouragement, you have to be willing to give it (both to yourself, perhaps in the form of a daily affirmation, or to others). I think this is a good rule-of-thumb for all of us, regardless of whether or not you feel the gesture need be returned. Encouragement takes many forms, verbal and non-verbal, but here are a few ideas of things to compliment to get the ball rolling: an effort, an attitude, a spirit of resilience, a smile, an outfit, an idea, an anointing. Once you start looking for things to appreciate and affirm in others (and in yourself) it forms a habit of positivity which I believe is vital to the flourishing of any individual, dream, or plan. Keep in mind, however, that the best words of encouragement are those that are of genuine appreciation. With that in mind, thank you for reading this far. If you've found any value in this, I'd urge you to find someone and offer some words of encouragement or a kind prayer, and if there's no one around, say something nice to yourself.

Verses to Look Back On:

Hebrews 10:23-25