When you encourage others, you in the process are encouraged, because you’re making a commitment and difference in that person’s life. –Zig Ziglar
It was a beautiful, crisp Fall morning in the idyllic town of Hamilton, Ohio. We had a glorious time the night before at our daughter’s Family Weekend at Miami of Ohio, and I was looking forward to a replenishing run to recharge my batteries. I started south along the river and crossed over the footbridge toward the historic downtown district. I was still shaking out the cobwebs and moving a little more sluggish than normal. My goal was just to finish the run and take in the scenery along the way.
Suddenly, I had a little more company on my solo venture. I jogged through a tunnel and a few people in front of me were wearing bibs with numbers on them. Hmmm. I turned around and there were hundreds of runners wearing the same numbers! I looked to my left and noticed the streets were roped off. I looked to my right and spotted police cars on every corner. Somehow, I had wandered directly into the path of the Historic Hamilton 5-Mile Race!
I considered jumping over the ropes and leaving the course when an enthusiastic cheerleader held up a sign and shouted:
“Two more miles to go. You’re ALL Winners!”
Let’s do this thing! I reset my watch and timed the last two miles. This was gonna be fun! On every corner, there were people ringing cow bells and shouting positive encouragement. On every porch, there were families waving American flags and cheering on the runners. It reinforced the notion that the state of Ohio simply has the nicest people! Buoyed by this inspiration, I felt as though I were floating toward the finish line. As I took the final turn toward home, I saw a group of supporters urging the runners across the threshold. I sprinted the final twenty yards and was immediately mobbed by exuberant well-wishers. Hysterical!
As I shook off the throng, I looked down at my watch. It was my best time by more than a minute! Had I not been lifted by the encouragement and genuine care of others, I never could have achieved such incredible results. And isn’t that true of all of us in our work and personal lives?
We Are Better Together
In our work lives, not everything goes according to plan. At some point, we will hit a roadblock. At some point, we will lose our motivation. We can’t always find a clear path forward from within. Guidance from a dedicated manager can help us see a brighter way. Encouragement from a peer can provide the external motivation we need. Inspiration from the C-Suite can restore our faith in the mission. We are all better together when we create a positive environment built on encouragement and positivity.
And the same is true in our personal lives. Fractured relationships. Financial strife. Mental health challenges. During times of upheaval, we can’t wall ourselves off from the world. We can’t always dig out of it on our own. Loving encouragement from a family member or close friend can have an exponentially positive impact on our happiness. Timely advice from a neighbor or acquaintance can help us find some light. Surrounding ourselves with a circle of positive people who have our best interests at heart can help us overcome any challenge!
Assume Good Intentions
But what happens when we need more tough love than encouragement? We all have blind spots and sometimes we don’t need to keep moving forward down the same path. Sometimes, we need someone to tell us to switch paths entirely! Motivational cliches and cowbells don’t always get it done. We aren’t always winners!
In those cases, we have to deliver our advice with the same empathy and advocacy as we deliver our encouragement. We can’t shy away from our concerns, but we also have to show how much we care. And when we are on the receiving end, we have to assume good intentions. Friends, family members, and our inner circle all want what is best for us. People are genuinely trying to help, even if we can’t see it in the moment.
With proper encouragement and a positive environment, we can accomplish so many incredible things together. We can maximize our potential and change the course of our lives. It’s all out there for the taking! And if we can give the encouragement and advice as well as we receive it, we will all be winners!