EDITORIAL: ENCOURAGE THE DISCOURAGED

Shalee Thompson, Staff Writer

Walking through life without any joy or happiness are the constant emotions discouraged people may experience. Living a life full of discouragement isn’t everyone’s cup of tea; however, there are many ways you can prevent this from happening.

It’s hard to stay encouraged all the time, but that is why we have friends with us here on earth; so we can have someone there to uplift our spirits and to make us feel better in the time being. One of the main keys to staying encouraged in yourself is to surround yourself with people that reflect who you want to be, and how you want to feel, because different energies are contagious. Being the light to someone’s darkness I understand can be intimidating; however, we all have the ability to encourage others, because encouragement comes from a grateful heart. Yes, it’s that simple. If you have a grateful heart, a heart full of love and a heart to bless others, it should come rather easy to you.

Encouragement is a noble activity or in lamen’s terms, a selfless activity. Those who make a point to encourage others are influencers in their world or in their sphere of influence. Whenever you uplift other around you it creates this chain reaction that allows other to share the encouragement that was first shared to them, which started with you. Have you ever thought about the last time you told someone “I’m proud of you”? Not for what you’ve done or accomplished but just for being you. If you are like most people, it’s been far too long. Those four words are some of the most encouraging words to the human ear, and we should all make a time to speak it more.

If you are a leader, your words are magnified. Something that seems of no aftereffect to you can lift up someone’s spirit or crush them. Being in the position of a leader others will look up to you for any reason, because your words hold boundless power. That’s why it’s critical that your words build others up, not tear them down. They must be encouraged, because encouragement is important. It’s important because it prevents us from giving up, it influences great decisions, and the encouragement turns us into encouragers. Let this be the starting point of more encouragement. Make others lives more joyful and bright, by radiating the light of encouragement into their lives. In the meantime, I hope you have a wonderful day and don’t let anything or anyone stop you from being who you are. There is no better you in this world. And remember “It all starts with you,” as Trent Shelton always says.