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.

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.

Someone told me, affectionately, that I was a “pain”. I immediately shot back with, “I’m not a ‘pain’, I’m a gentle stimulant in the ‘oyster’ of your group. Eventually, I’ll help you to produce a beautiful pearl!” Don’t settle for the status quo! You have a great brain and a playful spirit, use them to gently stimulate growth in everyone and everything around you. We’re all here to create life and most times, that process requires a little bit of friction. Please, don’t be afraid to stir things up, creating pearls! Eventually, people will love you for it.

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

If “Plan A” fails, there’s always “Plan B”, right?  Well, not so fast! Now I’m thinking that if “Plan A” failed, then it wasn’t the “A-Plan” we thought it was after all, was it? If you’re struggling with the tatters of lesser plans, learn from them, and then let them go. Handled with enough grace, this process will always allow the “A-Plan”, the true “Plan A”, to emerge in victory! Remember, your dream has you, you don’t have it, and it will never give up!

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

This mini-blog first emerged as a “Simple e-Couragement”. It received such a strong response that I decided to post it here as an official Simply Encouraging® Blog. If you don’t receive them, you can subscribe to “e-Couragements” at the link above.

Frustration! I’m having to deal with a completely fresh start, on my computer at least. After years of laying one updated “operating system” on top of another, something went wrong. I have to totally erase my hard drive, install a fresh “operating system” and then “cherry pick” the data I want to add back in. 

So now I’m thinking, wouldn’t it be nice to do that with my brain! In some respects that might be good, but we simply don’t get to do an “erase & install” on our lives. We don’t get to neatly “route out” our bad judgments, poor choices, or negative experiences. And as I think about it, I’m glad that it’s this way for us “human-types”. Every mistake is precious if we will just face them in the light, and we would lose so much if we could neatly erase them all, somewhere off in the shadows.

The process of learning from our mistakes actually has a wonderful effect. If I’m willing to face my “corrupted files”, understand them, and invite them to higher ground, then I grow in faith, character, and maturity. This can be a very scary process, but what incredible rewards! 

We try to “erase & install” in a gazillion ways, but we just end up doing more damage until our lives don’t work anymore. You know, kind of like my computer. Listen, I don’t like my “pockets of corruption” any more than you like yours. I’m just suggesting that if we’re willing to “Speak light to darkness”, then we can gain so much. 

Never fear your “corruption”. I know it’s there, and I love you anyway! And I deeply respect your courage to shine a light into it, learn from it, and grow in wonderful ways. Stop placing corruption upon corruption! You’re not a series of products that are good or bad. You’re SO MUCH MORE than that! You’re in the process of becoming more beautiful.

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

I love to see surprise in motion. I love to see the reactions that come with it!  “I never imagined I would be rich!” “I never dreamed I could own a home!” “I never saw myself with a college degree!” The list goes on, and you’ve all experienced this phenomenon. Perhaps there is a “Law of Attraction” that serves to make specific things happen for people, but certainly, given all the "never's", there is a “Principle of Surprise” that thrills to delight us in unexpected ways. This “Principle of Surprise” loves to visit from time-to-time, inviting us all to live in anticipation of things we could never have seen in our mind's eye, dreamed of, or imagined for our lives. And who knows? Today could be YOUR day for a visit! Be on the lookout for good and surprising things. 

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

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. 

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

“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?

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

Is it good or bad? Right or wrong? Healthy or dysfunctional? The true answer can only come from one’s conscience and typically, if the question appears, then the conscience has already spoken. While these black-and-white questions seeking answers on the outside only cloud and confuse, there is a question that settles all arguments, once and for all, and it’s this. “Is it beneficial?” Are your thoughts, feelings, actions, and relationships beneficial to having a sense of peace deep on the inside? It seems to me that this grace-filled question carries with it empowerment that speaks “Life to potential, healing to pain, and light to darkness”. Is it beneficial? I love that question! It’s so gracefully guiding. It seems to love me and if you give it a chance, it will love you too.

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

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.