I have never seen people who could do real work
except under the stimulus of encouragement
and enthusiasm and the approval of the
people for whom they are working.

B.C. Forbes

   

Taking an interest in what others are thinking and doing is often a much more powerful form of encouragement than praise.

Robert Martin

  
   
Giving encouragement to others is a most welcome gift, for the results of it are lifted spirits, increased self-worth, and a hopeful future.

Florence Littauer

      
The truth is that everything that can be accomplished by showing a person when he or she is wrong, ten times as much can be accomplished by showing them where they are right.  The reason we don't do it so often is that it's more fun to throw a rock through a window than to put in a pane of glass.

Robert T. Allen
  

We flourish under the benefits of encouragement, praise, approval, and acceptance.  If we live with encouragement--especially our own--we learn to be confident.  If we live with self-praise, we learn to appreciate what's around us.  If we coexist with self-approval, we're more likely to give ourselves--and others-- a little slack.

Leslie Levine

   

Most of us, swimming against the tides of trouble the world knows nothing about, need only a bit of praise or encouragement-- and we will make the goal.

Jerome P. Fleishman

  

Whether or not we realize it each of us has within the ability to set
some kind of example for people.  Knowing this, would you rather be
the one known for being the one who encouraged others,
or the one who inadvertently discouraged those around you?

Josh Hinds

  

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So often we think that to be encouragers we have to produce
great words of wisdom when, in fact, a few simple syllables
of sympathy and an arm around the shoulder can
often provide much needed comfort.

Florence Littauer

   
Correction does much, but encouragement does more.
Encouragement after censure is as the sun after a shower.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
  

Our workaday lives are filled with opportunities to bless
others.  The power of a single glance or an encouraging
smile must never be underestimated.

G. Richard Rieger

   

You are not likely to bring out the best in people or nurture their creativity
if every time you hear about their problems you instantly offer a solution.
Encourage people to look for their own solutions--and project
the knowledge that they are capable of doing so.

Nathaniel Branden
Self-Esteem Every Day

  
Something I realized a few years ago in one of those "Of course--I should have
realized that all along!" moments is that encouragement is absolutely free.  It doesn't
cost me a cent to give it out, but its payoff is incredible.  A brighter smile, improved
performance on any sort of task, much more enjoyment in doing something--I see these
in people constantly when I or someone else encourages them.  I often read stories by
adults who have succeeded in life largely in part because just one person saw their
potential and encouraged them when they were younger, and they have never
forgotten those people or their words.  Wouldn't you love to feel that something
like that would be possible with you as the remembered person?  I know
that I would, but unless I plant the seeds today, that sort
of harvest will never come to pass.

tom walsh
   

People have a way of becoming what you encourage them to be--
not what you nag them to be.

Scudder N. Parker

   

   

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There are high spots in all of our lives and most of them have
come about through encouragement from someone else.  I don't
care how great, how famous or successful a man or woman
may be, each hungers for applause.

George M. Adams
 

The finest gift you can give anyone is encouragement.  Yet, almost no one gets
the encouragement they need to grow to their full potential.  If everyone
received the encouragement they need to grow, the genius in most everyone
would blossom and the world would produce abundance beyond the
wildest dreams.  We would have more than one Einstein, Edison, Schweitzer,
Mother Theresa, Dr. Salk and other great minds in a century.

Sidney Madwed

  

Encouragement is being a good listener, being positive, letting others
know you accept them for who they are.  It is offering hope,
caring about the feelings of another, understanding.

Gigi Graham Tchividjian

  

  
There is nourishment from being encouraged and helped up by
others when we are weak.  We are nourished from feedback
from friends whom we trust and who will be honest with us.

Rich G. Buhler
 

Note how good you feel after you have encouraged
someone else.  No other argument is necessary to suggest that
one never miss the opportunity to give encouragement.

George M. Adams

   

We have some inspiring and motivational books that may interest you.  Our main way of supporting this site is through the sale of books, either physical copies or digital copies for your Amazon Kindle (including the online reader).  All of the money that we earn through them comes back to the site in one way or another.  Just click on the picture to the left to visit our page of books, both fiction and non-fiction!

   
   

    
Flatter me, and I may not believe you.  Criticize me, and I may not like you.
Ignore me, and I may not forgive you.  Encourage me, and I will not forget you.
Love me and I may be forced to love you.

William Arthur Ward
   

A word of encouragement during a failure is worth
more than an hour of praise after success.

unattributed

   

Nine tenths of education is encouragement.

Anatole France

   

Those who are lifting the world upward and onward are those
who encourage more than criticize.

Elizabeth Harrison

   

    

Tell your child, your spouse, or your employee that he or she is stupid or dumb
at a certain thing, has no gift for it, and is doing it all wrong, and you have destroyed
almost all incentive to try to improve.  But use the opposite technique--be liberal
with your encouragement, make the thing seem easy to do, let the other person
know that you have faith in his or her ability to do it, that the person has an
undeveloped flair for it--and that person will practice until the dawn comes in
the window in order to excel.

Dale Carnegie

    
Who do you spend time with?  Criticizers or encouragers?  Surround
yourself with those who believe in you.  Your life is
too important for anything less.

Steve Goodier
  

Sometimes we have to inspire and encourage ourselves, through
our personal narrative.  And we start with what we know.

Deborah L. Parker
For People of Strength, Soul, and Spirit

  

Encouraging others can be the catalyst to unleashing their greatness.

Rob Liano

    
   

  
If all we ever offer is blanket praise without any meaning behind it, kids
will always seek approval because they'll never feel satisfied. If we
offer genuine encouragement for their accomplishments, they
won't need our approval; they'll approve of themselves.

Kelly Bartlett
Encouraging Words for Kids
  

To encourage me is to believe in me, which gives me the power to defeat dragons.

Richelle E. Goodrich
Smile Anyway

  

My dad encouraged me to quit my job and pursue the life that I am
about to have.  He got excited with me.  He was the first one to tell
me that I could do it.  I am 30 years old, and I still find great power
in my own dad telling me it’s possible.
I still find great power in my own dad telling me I can do it.

Dan Pearce
Single Dad Laughing

   

          
   

Yes, life can be mysterious and confusing--but there's much of life that's actually rather dependable and reliable.  Some principles apply to life in so many different contexts that they can truly be called universal--and learning what they are and how to approach them and use them can teach us some of the most important lessons that we've ever learned.
My doctorate is in Teaching and Learning.  I use it a lot when I teach at school, but I also do my best to apply what I've learned to the life I'm living, and to observe how others live their lives.  What makes them happy or unhappy, stressed or peaceful, selfish or generous, compassionate or arrogant?  In this book, I've done my best to pass on to you what I've learned from people in my life, writers whose works I've read, and stories that I've heard.  Perhaps these principles can be a positive part of your life, too!
Universal Principles of Living Life Fully.  Awareness of these principles can explain a lot and take much of the frustration out of the lives we lead.