Choose to be encouraged or choose to be discouraged. We do have a choice in the matter.
Sure, some days it’s not as easy as others.
I used to subscribe to a weekly email from Brian P. Moran, author of “The 12 Week Year.” Brian always signed his emails…
Be Encouraged.
Brian”
He explained in one issue that he does that to remind his readers that they have a choice.
He goes on to say,
Each day we consciously or unconsciously choose to be encouraged or discouraged.”
Think about it for a moment, it sure is a lot easier to feel discouraged. Feeling discouraged simply doesn’t take any effort. Usually thirty minutes of the evening news is all it takes.
So, we let out a big sigh and discouragement sets in.
The Labor Day weekend was no exception. Discouragement was peppered throughout the headlines with yet another mass shooting, a devastating hurricane, the escalating trade war, burning rainforests, and on and on and on.
Please stick with me, this is not intended to be a downer post. If it finishes that way, I’ll just scrap it. Being discouraged is counter to being untucked.
Encourage the encouragers.”
—Mitch Matthews, author and success coach
On many days, it feels like all you can do is let out one of those sighs and hope for better news ahead.
While writing this post, I thought I’d do a quick Google search and see what might come up for “how to be encouraged.”
I’ve got to share this… I can’t let it go.
You might not be surprised that one of the top hits was a post by motivational guru, Jim Rohn called “How to Keep Yourself Encouraged.”
What did surprise me though was the best he could do was share some platitudes about taking responsibility and reminding yourself that things will get better. Seriously, this is all you’ve got Jim?
To be fair to, Brian admits that we all have those days when feeling encouraged is a ‘tremendous challenge.’
Paraphrasing Brian Moran, here’s the call to action (and it does require some purposeful intention) …
Focus on what keeps you encouraged.
The things in life that matter most—your family, friends, health, blessings, small victories, big victories, freedom, good neighbors… everything that makes up your tiny little space in the Universe.
Since I’ve been writing this blog, I’ve come to realize that we have far more choices than we readily believe. Many times, they just get covered up by a misguided sense of duty and obligation.
And that’s the reminder—we have a choice.
We can choose to be encouraged or we can allow ourselves to become discouraged.
The thing is, everything works out better than it might have when we choose to be encouraged—beginning with how you feel… which, in turn leads to better outcomes altogether.
Being encouraged—acting as if there is a reason to be encouraged—leads to better outcomes, fulfillment, impact, and joy.
Emerging from the shock and devastation in the Bahamas, as the residents were being interviewed, hints of encouragement and optimism began to show up. The storm was over. Yes, there were tears. Still… human grit and resilience began to reveal itself.
“Be Encouraged.”
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Copyright © 2019 Jeff Meister
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