| Volume 1 #3 | December 2005

The Way of Embracing Encouragement – Part 3:
 Believing In Yourself

Now you might want to ask, isn't believing in yourself the same thing as accepting encouragement?

Not really. 

One has to come before the other.  If you aren't going to accept encouragement, it's mighty hard to believe in yourself, isn't it? The encouragement given to you is external. Once you have truly accepted and absorbed it, and owned it as true, then you are on your way to believing in yourself.

Sometimes that’s hard to do when you’re facing rejection, encountering roadblocks, and things aren’t coming together as you’ve hoped…just yet.

There’s a reason why I paused there.  You know deep down inside why you’re doing what you’re doing. You have a God given talent, a calling, or a message. Trust it. Things don’t always happen on our timetable…or exactly in the way you planned. It may not be the showcase opportunity that’s going to make you memorable. Lots of times, it’s that thing that comes out of left field. Somebody saw your website link in some odd place, went to hear your sound clip and was touched by what they heard. Or someone found out about you from someplace or someone else...maybe an avenue you weren't ever aware of.

There’s an emerging and powerful way to embrace and accept encouragement and believe in yourself: partnering with someone who can hold up a mirror to your thoughts, plans and goals. In the process of this dynamic, possibilities can be revealed to you that you hadn’t realized, or thought of because it might have been stuck down in your surface someplace, or it hasn’t been seen with fresh eyes before. For you it might be where you’re going with your work, how to communicate how unique you are, how do I get this opportunity, etc. When you are affirmed, it's empowering. And then, it becomes contagious. It feels so good to receive it, that before long you want others to feel the way you do, and so you start giving it to others. 

One of my favorite encouragers is a fellow named Brian Austin Whitney, who heads an independent music organization called Just Plain Folks. Among his many gems is this quote: "Sometimes all you have to do to inspire humans to greatness is give them a reason and an opportunity to do something great."

Think about that for a moment.

When you encourage people, you are giving them a reason to pursue their goal or dream. You're saying you "get it". It's not some pipe dream they've had spinning around in their heads. It's real. Then, when the opportunity to shine comes their way, they've got the confidence to move forward and go for it.

 I hope that as I've been bringing forward these concepts to you that you've found something that you can relate to in your own life, as a giver or receiver of encouragement.

I hope this season brings you many blessings!! -- Wendy

Next issue: From Soap Bars to Raisin Boxes...

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All original written material ©2005 Wendy Vickers. All Rights Reserved.