The Power of Encouragement to Hearten and Strengthen

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A film maker from Glasgow came to the north on a work trip recently.  He only stayed for one night, as he had a busy schedule.  I was impressed at how, in a very brief visit, he interacted with both host, friend and stranger.  He was present, noticing the sights, smells, sounds and tastes around him: the chef who ‘made the most exquisite dish’ that evening, the story of how two of the other guests met each other, the ambience of the setting, the paintings on the wall. He was generous with his comments, and so positive.

It was a brief blip on the horizon of time, but his words had impact and I returned home that evening feeling uplifted and strengthened - eager to move forward creatively and in other ways.  I told him as much when I said good-bye.  He seemed a bit surprised!  It was evident that, for him, encouragement is second nature, after having practiced it for many years as a director and leader, as a person of integrity and one who has stepped into his gifting as a film-maker, against all the odds.

The meaning of 'encourage' in the Cambridge dictionary is ‘words or behaviour that gives someone confidence to do something.’ In another dictionary, to encourage is to 'inspire with courage, spirit, or hope' or 'attempt to persuade or spur on', a description I like even more.  This is what the visitor was doing for me.

Irish writer, John O’Donohue, expands on this as it relates to new challenges, and the ability to fully embrace who we are:

'Awaken to the mystery of being here

and enter the quiet immensity of your own presence.

Have joy and peace in the temple of your senses.

Receive encouragement when new frontiers beckon.

Respond to the call of your gift and the courage to follow its path...

May your outer dignity mirror an inner dignity of soul.

May you take time to celebrate the quiet miracles that seek no attention.'

If we take the beginning and end of the word ‘encouragement’ away, we have the word ‘courage’ - and the root of ‘courage’ is the French ‘coeur': heart.  What do we have a heart for? And how do we 'take heart' and strengthen ourselves in the face of so many obstacles: uncertainty, insecurities, negative and critical voices in our minds, external threats.  How can we stay on a nourishing path?

There is a note pinned to my studio wall with a phrase scribbled in pencil which reads: ‘What would I do today if I were brave?’

I think of a friend who I’ve just been in touch with this morning. He flew to the Ukraine yesterday and will be staying there for a while to support and talk to people there. One of the lectures he will be giving is 'The Value of Art in a Time of War'.  It is natural to be filled with fear, but an art work can be an act of stepping out despite the fear.

Taking courage doesn’t have to be as big as going to a war-torn country, but it could simply be applied to the everyday decisions we make - in choosing to step out of our comfort zone. Maybe it means to pull back from social media and venture out on a path in the woods not taken before; or to step into a social situation that is unfamiliar to us; or to pick up a pen and start writing...

Courage is taking the next step, bringing us to a place where we weren’t before, and enabling a growth and strengthening of ourselves.  And an encourager spurs us on to do this.  At the very least, we can become encouragers of others, on their journey through life.  It is one of the greatest gifts. We all need to step out in whatever way we can. 

‘To dare is to lose one’s footing momentarily. To not dare is to lose oneself.’

~Soren Kierkegaard

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