Early Sunday morning finds me pondering grace, and the way I’ve spoken about it over the past few years. Here are some of my all-time favorite thoughts on the matter, each with a brief narrative to provide depth. Enjoy!

Grace is kind, gentle and she covers others in beauty. Deep down, we all long for her touch.

Here I personify grace as a feminine power. It seemed to upset a few people who immediately unsubscribed from “Simple e-Couragements”. That wasn’t graceful. We all have the capacity for both feminine and masculine energy, and grace weds them seamlessly. Think of it this way, wouldn’t you like others to cover you with beauty when you feel less than attractive in your being? Of course you would.

Grace is a state of the heart that can move mountains.

Grace is powerful. By “mountains”, I mean those difficult relationships that challenge us all from time to time. It’s natural to want predictability, virtue, and kindness from others but in case you haven’t noticed, this isn’t always the way that it rolls. Be kind and gentle when people are less than perfect. See them as beautiful when you feel they’re not, and you’ll begin to experience the power of grace. 

If love makes the world go 'round, then grace keeps it on its axis.

I smiled as this line was inspired within me. I always love when a lot is said with a little. Love and grace have a special relationship. I haven’t quite figured it out yet, but I know that they do. I’m learning that I don’t have to figure everything out, and that embracing mysteries can be very sweet to the soul.

Encouragement offers a graceful hand, and travels lightly with others.

I think encouragement and grace also have a special relationship. I suppose this is a mystery as well, but I do know this. Simple Encouragement® is never in a hurry, and it never has a goal since its motive is love. We’re living in some particularly challenging times and we all need a little tenderness. Today is always a good day to gently take someone’s hand, and simply enjoy them.

Encouraged is the heart touched by grace. 

Please take some time to read about The Simple Encouragement® Movement. When we meet others in a spirit of loving engagement we are likely to see a hidden potential that the other can barely see, a buried hurt begging for expression, or a pocket of darkness begging for release. An attitude of loving engagement can release hidden potential, heal buried hurt, and bring light to darkness in a way that frees souls. This is the heart of Simple Encouragement®!

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My friend called early to ask how things were going, and I told him, “Oh, I’m off to a cynical start on yet another broken day”. He laughed and said, “Great, ‘Mr. Simple Encouragement’, I dare you to blog about that one!” Given that I’ve been dubbed “a cynic to tradition” I thought, “Sure, I can do that!” So, inquiring minds want to know. When is the last time you went for a twenty-four hour period without someone or something frustrating you, hurting you, ticking you off, or generally letting you down? Just as I thought, yet another broken day. I know that all the days of our lives are precious, but each one holds a wrinkle of brokenness right out of the box. And you know what? We’re supposed to be ready to iron out those wrinkles as they appear, and we do this by giving forward the “right stuff” as the sun comes up. You know, “stuff” like understanding, grace, compassion, and acceptance. There’s even a name for it, and I call it “fore-giveness”. Here’s how it looks in “real time”. Ooops! There’s that fender-bender caused by the other guy. Covered with understanding! Someone just made a mean-spirited comment. Covered with grace! A hurting person just appeared from nowhere sending my whole schedule sideways. Covered with compassion! My vacation starts tomorrow and the forecast is rain. Covered with acceptance! You see, love in all its forms is the warmth that smoothes out the wrinkles that come with everyday life. At some point in the next twenty-four hours, you’re going to have a wrinkle, guaranteed! Just remember to apply the loving warmth you started with this morning and if you do, you’ll make it all just a little bit smoother for you, and for everyone around you. Always keep in mind that warm, forward-giving love will always make for smooth sailing, even upon the stormy seas of our otherwise broken days. 

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I search for the essence of people. You know, that intrinsic, irreducible element that makes them special. Essence only reveals itself in relationship, and as a verb. Of course, a verb is a word that expresses an action defining the connection between two or more people. Verbs have something specific to do, an impact to make, and life to share. Verb-Essence is so special that when it flashes from beneath the swirling dust cloud of otherwise messy humanity, you experience it in a profound and deep way. It’s there inside of a newborn baby, it’s there upon the face that wears a hundred years, and it’s there within every human being of every age. Deep on the inside, you have an intrinsic and indispensable quality that only you can bring to this time, and to this place. This is your essence! You definitely have it, and it’s right there, right about where you place your hand over your heart. Your essence gains expression in so many ways and now, it just needs a name. Breathe, ponder, and watch what you do that lights other people up on a consistent basis. Eventually, this laser-like energy will reveal its name, and your life will take on new meaning. You will join the “movers and shakers” of the world, and that’s a wonderful tribe to belong to. We always know who they are because they express essence, and essence always compels others with its graceful, life-giving power. 

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“You know, I think I’m going to make it through another day!” This is what I find myself saying when people ask the perfunctory, “How are you?” I like it because it seems to draw folks from a state of “minimum gesture” into maximum engagement. You have to admit, my answer does create a certain dissonance, like an odd chord in a beautiful symphony. Is it cynical, or hopeful? Is it flippant, or sincere? Is it dismissive, or reaching? The answers to these three questions depend upon the heart with which the statement derives, so here’s what I think. It’s hopeful because it has the entire day covered with victory. It’s sincere because it’s what I truly believe deep on the inside. It’s reaching since I think the statement ends with an invitation to share in an atmosphere of caring. Can we get any better than “hopeful of victory”, “sincerity of belief”, and “reaching that cares”? I genuinely do think I’m going to make it through another day, but it’s really more than that. I want to live my moments victoriously, faithfully, and deeply connected with others. How about you?

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Most days, somewhere along the way, stress comes calling, and I struggle to just get back to “Thank you”. I know that in this special place, all is going the way of love, and everything is perfect. I know that if I can just get to back to “Thank you”, I’ll be fine. It seems that it would be so easy to get there, and to stay there, but it’s not. I won’t give up, and I hope this sharing will strengthen you in returning to “Thank you” time and again. Thank *you* for being here! *You* are my reason for being.

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

What’s the difference between a healthy person and an unhealthy person? A healthy person doesn’t let their “dysfunctioning” get in the way of their functioning. Yep, I said it, and I’m glad! Our growth depends upon our acting “as if” we are already grown. It’s as old as time, “Fake it until you make it”, and since it is as old as time, we sometimes miss the wisdom and the power of those words. Let’s face it, we’re all actors upon the stage of life, and we get to choose our roles! You have a sense of what a “functioning” person looks like, so you also have the freedom to act out the very best version of the very best you that you can be! You’re not captive to a conflict; you’re a free agent. You’re not a series of products or cures; you’re a beautiful process! Think about it, if twenty-grand cash was resting on you acting thoroughly happy, loving, and productive for a day, you just might be able to pull it off. That’s all, folks! Don’t let your dysfunction get in the way of your function! In fact, why don’t you hop on over to the Simple Encouragement® Facebook Page to share your thoughts on the matter. I’ll see you there!

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

It was one of those moments when I said, “Awwww, we’re just little fish in a great big pond.” Without hesitation my wife said, “Woohoo! We have room to grow!” And you know what? She was right! So here is my question to you. Right here and right now, where do you have room to grow? Come on, you know the answer! You just heard that tiny, little voice deep on the inside telling you exactly what you need to be doing differently, and precisely how to do it. My simple resolution this year is to get real comfortable with “that voice”. In fact, I’m even giving myself a “double dog dare” to do a lot of what it says! How about you?

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

Sometimes we feel bound by fate. Other times we claim free will. It may seem like we’re powerless, yet power can flow from our release. Why do we cling to “either/or” when we can have it all? Can you hold the tension of loving someone you’re angry with? Do you dare to give it away when you feel like you don’t have enough? Life is far too clever to be a paradox. I try to choose “the mystery of both” because it sets me free! Encouraged people embrace mystery. They’re playfully comfortable with what they don’t know. They claim strength in weakness. They give and they love, just because they can. Encouraged people are mysterious folks! What do you think?

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

I listen for evidence of subtle passion and unrecognized talent. I experience others with the goal of discovering those very characteristics, unique and special, that they barely see as anything more than their typical routine. I spoke with a woman who loves the quiet solitude of painting nature scenes. For her, painting is transcendent, and the process makes her whole. She told me how people love her creations, and she declines their considerable offers of money to possess them. For her, it’s just what she does in life, as if everyone is capable of the very same talent. When I suggested that she set up an online studio so everyone could buy and enjoy her work, she seemed disoriented, telling me that people wouldn’t like what she does enough to spend money for it. Clearly, she didn’t even hear what she had just shared! Today, she conducts a successful art concern, doing what she loves, and thrives at it. If we’re willing to connect with others in a spirit of loving engagement, everyone has these incredible diamonds in the soil of their being, just ready for mining. And guess what? You have the gift to give the “gift”! I wonder if you really knew that.

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

I’m thinking of the things that people “try to be”. Whole industries are built upon them. Fortunes are made! Think about it. People “try to be” happy. Folks “try to be” motivated. Do you ever “try to be” important? What about those who “try to be” powerful. Here’s a good one. Do you “try to be” good? Well, if logic serves me, I have some really bad news for those who “try to be”. You can’t! If you “attempt, strive, and endeavor” (try) then you’re going to find it difficult “to occur naturally, or remain as before” (be). You simply can’t “try” to “be”. I mean, if you “try to be” and you only end up frustrated then I have to ask, “Why try?” Oh, please, don’t get me wrong. The process of becoming is a beautiful thing! It’s graceful and it occurs almost imperceptibly, kind of like a flower growing in a beautiful field. Yet, the flower only reaches for the sun out of the nature that was in its seed. The flower never strays from the root that gives reason for its being. So here’s the point. No matter how much you try to change by any means, it can only be real if you continue to “remain as before”. Yes, really ponder that one. We all have a seed of “essence” and if we receive it, embrace it, and enjoy it just as it is, it expands by giving us graceful doses of “try”. This is the process of becoming, when the “be” within comes naturally into fullness through telling us where to “try" in some small way. Our job is to listen closely, and then follow naturally. I think this makes sense. What do you think? 

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