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Where do you need encouragement? ...

Thursday, Oct 10, 2013. We are all dependent to some extent on encouragement. Even after 20 years I remember well some situations where someone told me: “you have done this well”. And I remember situations where some said: “that is not acceptable, change it!”

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Impact of words …

There is a huge impact of words on our life. We are stongly influenced when someone insults us. We are influenced by ridicule or sarcasm. I can even remember situations in primary school, where other school kids tried to anger me. Words can have impact. Words will have impact. We usually strongly underestimate the impact of words.

For our work, we need encouragement. You want to know that your work has purpose. You want to see the larger lines. You want perspective for your work. It should not be void. It should be full of value for others - and also give back something for myself. It is not enough, to be paid. It is not enough to receive a salary for your work at the end of the month. You want people to recognize that you do good things. You want their feedback, and want their encouragement. Words of encouragement are deeply needed for you work!

Sometimes you see the value of something only when it is missing. I have never been more aware of the need of encouragement in your daily work, until I had a boss who has difficulties of encouraging people. But it is absolutely crucial to get encouragement - even if you are an independent individual who has reached a lot and gets huge positive feedback from many places. Do not underestimate, what your words can do and will do to others!

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The gift of encouragement …

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There are people who have the gift of encouragement. It is a real talent. There are individuals, who can reach a lot just by one sentence, even by one word only. They can say one sentence, and you feel comforted. You feel taken serious. You feel somehow helped. It is a strange experience, which I had many times in my life now: there are those who by just recognizing you as a person can give you a big boost of encouragement.

I have been thinking a lot about whether this “gift of encouragement” is limited to some rare individuals. Is it a talent, like a mathematical or musical talent. Does it mean that some can do and others cannot do?

The conclusion which I have come to is: yes, there is this gift. It is an important talent. It is needed, for our communities. It is needed for our churches, but also in our jobs, in our companies, in our institutions. Without encouragement, it is difficult to go on. We need the encouraging people in our middle! We need them to do what they can do best: recognize and encourage ordinary individuals, special individuals, everyone of us!

But I also came to the conclusion that everyone can practice encouragement. It is important and needed, that we all think about this. We all need to practice encouragement. We are all called to encourage one another on the right way, in faith, in truth, in solidarity and many different things which are part of our life, our faith and our community! (Roland Potthast) ... more texts

jn_en_2013_10_10.txt · Last modified: 2017/06/18 16:48 by 127.0.0.1