Sometimes a lot is said in a brief exchange. This is a true story of an interaction I had with someone who was feeling “down”. Hopefully, reading it will help you to feel “up”!

“I just don’t feel like I’m living”. 

“What does it mean for you to be ‘alive’?” 

“To ‘Wake up’”. 

“Sometimes that’s unpleasant, isn’t it?”

“Sure; but it can feel good too!”

“That’s about right; it seems to runs both ways.”

“I guess I’m living after all.”

“Then, ‘Good morning!’. How’s your day looking now”?

Folks, life isn’t always easy, but if we give it enough time and the proper perspective, it invariably morphs into something good. Whatever it is that you’re “waking up” to, I hope this Simply Encouraging Story brightens your day. 

Simple Encouragement and Simply Encouraging are Trademarks of Simple E Creations, Inc.

Simply Encouraging® Stories & Narratives to Brighten Your Day, and Make Your Relationships Bright!™

I don’t set goals, I follow inspiration! Goals are chosen in the psyche, and they exist at some future time and place. Inspirations are received from the heart, and if we follow their gentle voice, they happen in the now! Living inspirationally this side of bedtime tonight keeps my journey fresh. Responsiveness to the inner voice as I step through each day is my striving. Perhaps I could accomplish a whole lot more if I lived in my head, but living from my heart seems right for me. I step, I listen for the voice, I adjust, and then, I step again. Goals seem awkward for my life, and while I do aspire to inspire others, simply encouraging them as an act of love, mostly, I listen for the voice, obey, and marvel at the outcomes as I walk the inspired way. 

Simple Encouragement and Simply Encouraging are Trademarks of Simple E Creations, Inc.

Simply Encouraging® Stories & Narratives to Brighten Your Day, and Make Your Relationships Bright!™

After a consultation, I called to thank the person who recommended my services. He seemed clueless who the people were, but after considerable mind-searching, he exclaimed, “I gave them your name over ten years ago!” There is much to unpack from this brief interaction. 

First, our timing is not the timing of another. A lot has to be reorganized on the inside for a recommendation to take hold. Second, our timing is not divine. Very often, external circumstances have to line up for the blossoming of our otherwise brilliant suggestion. Third, just because we have spoken, we are not in control of the idea. Invariably, inspiration has an intelligence of its own to be expressed in its own time.

I’m aware that Simple Encouragement tends to “roll this way” as well. We can speak “life to potential, healing to pain, and light to darkness” with no demonstrable effect, sometimes, until years later. However, it’s a sweet day when someone says, “I’m ‘this or that’ today because you saw the gift in me years ago, and cared enough to say so.” What a heartwarming moment when someone says, “I’m smiling today because years ago, in my quiet suffering, you noticed, and said, ‘You’re in deep pain with little hope, so I’ll have hope for you until your hope returns’”. It’s humbly empowering when you hear, “I was locked in guilt and shame and when you said, ‘I see your struggle with (fill in the blank) and I love you anyway’”, it gave me the strength to live in the light, and the power to overcome”. 

This is the trilogy of Simple Encouragement, relating in a threefold way that brings out the hidden gifts in others (life to potential), brings healing to closed off pockets of suffering (healing to pain), and through mentioning the “elephant in the room” with a heart of compassionate acceptance, sets others back upon their moral journey (light to darkness). Relating through this trilogy of “life, healing, and light” requires no special training, degrees, or mystical understandings. All it asks is a spirit of loving engagement, and a heart that cares. True love is always curious, and cares to the point of action. When true love cares, it will always speak “life to potential, healing to pain, and light to darkness”.

Simple Encouragement highlights a “trilogy of relating” that calls for you to be ever mindful of “life, healing, and light” in every interaction that you have. Practice Simple Encouragement and I guarantee that your relationships will naturally take on a subtle but growing intimacy. Simple Encouragement will always animate something in another that reveals a gift, heals a hurt, or breaks a bonding fear. “Life, healing, and light”… It’s just that simple!

Remember, when we have been truly encouraged, it’s a life-altering event! Of course, once you speak, keep in mind that your words WILL have an outcome, eventually, but instead of waiting for the result to appear, get busy speaking “life, healing, and light” to the very next person upon your path! If you stick to it, this habit will make you a change-agent extraordinaire, and the results will come at just the right time. 

I’m grateful for every heart that seeks to touch others with transforming love. Simply take “life healing, and light” as a mantra, and you will automatically begin to relate with others in ways that will give you tremendous significance in their eyes. Just remember, Simple Encouragement is never in a hurry, and it never has a goal since its motive is love. Be patient, and know that given enough “life, healing, and light”, you WILL change the world, one heart at a time. Think of Simple Encouragement as “a quiet cause” and if you organize your every interaction through these three beautiful “filters”, believe me, the magic will come.

Simple Encouragement and Simply Encouraging are Trademarks of Simple E Creations, Inc.

I love “Eves” because they’re very different from plain old “evenings” or “nights”. An “Eve” is the evening or night immediately preceding a special day, and on the most popular of “Eves”, there is always a powerful energy of eager anticipation. “Eves” tend to vibrate with childlike imagination about the specialness of the day to come, ever hopeful of fresh starts, and new beginnings. The “Eves” we share in common are incredible, but I have to wonder. What if we treated every single evening or night as an “Eve” that was about to give birth to the most incredible day of our entire life? I think that it would somehow revolutionize our whole existence. As every evening approaches, and every night arrives, treat it as the “Eve” of an incredible tomorrow!  When you lay your head upon your pillow each night, fill your imaginings with outrageously beautiful and abundant thoughts of the day to come. And remember, “Eves” are magical, and dreams do come true.

Simple Encouragement and Simply Encouraging are Trademarks of Simple E Creations, Inc.

More than a state of gratitude within oneself, “Thank you” is a statement of deep connection with another. “Thank you” conveys humility, surprise, and perhaps a little bit of awe. After all, it’s always “awesome” when someone delivers on our desires before we’re fully aware of their existence. “Thank you” acknowledges that, “I let go, and your love took hold!” It’s a statement of childlike excitement, celebrating the giver as much as the gift. Yes, I think it’s better to give than receive, but think it through. What better gift is there than “Thank you” expressed from a heart of delight?

Simple Encouragement and Simply Encouraging are Trademarks of Simple E Creations, Inc.

This is the season of spiritual light where celebration and joy abounds. There are festive rituals with candles lit, colorful lights, gifts exchanged, and grand meals shared amongst family and friends. There is hope of reunion, reconciliation, and peace. Worship overflows from grateful hearts, and the heavens rejoice at the outpouring. For a season, everyone seems happy, connected, and free of care. Yet in the midst of it all, there are so many people who are suffering quietly. Oh, they go through the motions, complete with smiles and the just right words, but look very closely. There is a slight turning away when loved ones are mentioned, as they privately remember a loss. There is that subtle “glazing of gaze” when gifts are exchanged, because they feel shame over a hurting financial condition. Every now and then there will be a slight tear shed for a broken relationship, quickly whisked away so as not to be a burden. In this season of spiritual light, so many people are suffering so deeply, deep within their souls. Please take time to notice, dare to give it voice, and care enough to lend a hand. Believe me, your joy will be deeper and more complete if you do. And think about it, perhaps cherishing love is the greatest gift that you could ever give to anyone! In this special season of light, shine a light. In the year to come, BE the light!

Simple Encouragement and Simply Encouraging are Trademarks of Simple E Creations, Inc.

I love the idea of “mutuality” in relationships. For me, being “mutual” implies “an exchange of persons” where “I am yours, and you are mine”. If something troubles you, it will trouble me. If something troubles me, it will trouble you. My heart senses your desire, and your heart senses mine. I’m clearing the way before you take the next step, and you help to guide and protect my steps as well. This isn’t codependency where there is a loss of self and a confusion of boundaries, it’s cherishing! Mutuality is a “state of being” where healthy and aware egos set themselves aside to serve one another. It represents a condition of love where there is absolutely no room for fear. Mutuality is a value where each gives one hundred percent, and no one keeps score. This is the level of care I want to provide for others. This is a level of care I desire for myself. May we all be inspired to aspire to this kind of love.

Simple Encouragement and Simply Encouraging are Trademarks of Simple E Creations, Inc.

I wrote a quote some time ago, and I’ve refined it slightly over time. It occurs to me that it represents a philosophy of life, a way of being, and it speaks to the very heart of the Simple Encouragement® Movement. I find it to be full of “Life, healing, and light™” and perhaps you might agree. Here is what I said.

“I paint my past with hues of grace, erasing all regret. I color my future in shades of love, removing all fear. The moment is now, and it’s time for broad brushstrokes of hope.”

Isn’t that refreshing! Please take some time to really reflect upon every line. I think each one holds the potential to revolutionize your life, and yes, to be Simply Encouraging® too!

Simple Encouragement and Simply Encouraging are Trademarks of Simple E Creations, Inc.

I recall a very dark period of time when my heart was broken, my faith had run out, and I’ll never forget the incredible expression of caring that caressed my despairing heart.

“I know it’s horrible for you right now, and your grief is fine with me. I’m here, and I’m going to have hope for you until your hope returns.” 

Those words carried such acceptance, power, and comfort. Somehow, they created a pinpoint of light in the midst of my black experience. This is a perfect example of “Speaking healing to pain”, one aspect of the Simple Encouragement® Trilogy. 

Never be afraid of the despairing, grieving, or lost people upon your path. Just be with them in quiet love. If you need words, and they should always be few, then now you have a “script”. 

You see, encouragement is putting “heart” into the “heart” of others. By “heart” I mean “courage”, and by “heart” I mean “soul”. A few heartfelt words touched my life with a seed of courage that tipped the outcome of my trial towards victory.

You can do this! Please, take the “script” as your own, and always remember, "Hearts filled with courage can rise to any challenge".

Simple Encouragement and Simply Encouraging are Trademarks of Simple E Creations, Inc.

Not everyone has faith, and that’s fine along the way, but almost everyone has hope. Hope is that thing you sense will happen even as your “head” tells you it’s impossible. You know it’s hope if the vision keeps coming back despite your psyche’s pesky insistence on logic. Hope is intuitive, and it springs from a place of knowing that knows a whole lot more than your head! Don’t ever allow logic to discourage any dream that’s alive within you. Remember, the dream is the reality. Hope in the hope!

Simple Encouragement and Simply Encouraging are Trademarks of Simple E Creations, Inc.