We all need to find someone to encourage. Of all the gifts you
possess truly one of the greatest is the ability to build up and help
another person to do the best they can, or be the best they can.
An interesting thing happens when you give of this special gift —
much in the same way a magnet works, you begin to pull into your life
people, opportunities and life experiences of a positive nature. I am
living proof of this.
To better understand this, consider the wise words which state
simply, yet profoundly: “You reap what you sow”. In short, what you put
out to the world makes its way back to you. My friends, if you’ll
concede that there’s truth in that wouldn’t it make sense to be
proactive when it comes to looking for ways to encourage others? I think
so! I will leave the sharing of this, to another blog soon. For now I
just want to focus on the power of encouragement.
I remember years ago, when I took part in a skit and took on the role
of the voice of God. I never appeared on stage, just a microphone
behind stage, whilst others played the scene Abraham sacrificing Isacc
on stage. The skit was hilarious, as we had a fat boy of 17 years
old playing the role of baby Isaac, which drew tremendous laughter from
the crowd. However at the end of the skit, a lady doctor named Nam Fong
made her way back stage to satisfy what she was curious about? She
wanted to know whom was the voice of God? On finding out it was me she
headed my direction and said, ” Leslie, God has given you a gift with
that voice, use it wisely and well !” I sheepishly thanked her but was
quite taken aback at her words.
Years down the road when I changed career paths and embarked on the
road to being a trainer and speaker, these words flooded my mind. They
were a source of such power and encouragement despite the fact it was
mentioned to me many many moons ago. As humans we remember both hurtful
and encouraging things said in the past like it was said yesterday.
Going forward begin to look at your life as though you are an artist
with the ability to paint on your canvas a magnificent masterpiece.
While this in itself is incredible — consider that you also have the
added advantage of literally being able to start a new work of art at
will.
In the moment you find yourself on a path which doesn’t serve you,
you can choose to course correct. You have the ability to succeed at
whatever you desire. Let go of the broken idea that it has to happen
overnight in order to be deemed a success.
Take joy in your achievement journey, knowing that as long as you
stay in the game, and allow yourself to learn the lessons which can be
gleaned from any challenges which may pop up along the way you will
reach your intended destination. When I first started speaking, I was
paid $50 an hour, then $75 then $100 but today I command a speaking fee
of $7,000 an hour. If you haven’t already please listen to a song by
Miley Cyrus called ‘The Climb’.
This song is my theme song for this year 2011. The song has the words
: ” I can almost see it, that dream I’m dreaming, But there’s a voice
inside my head saying you’ll never reach it “ W all have doubts, but
its moments like those where words of encouragement can sweep us up, as
they have for me. The song goes on with; ” There is always gonna be an
another mountain, I’m always gonna want to make it move , always gonna
be an uphill battle, sometime I’m gonna have to lose, ain’t about how
fast we get there, aint whats waiting on the other side……its the
Climb.”
Life is a journey, its a climb its sometimes pretty tough for you and
for me. What will make that journey that much easier, that much
sweeter, that much more energized is the power we get from
…’encouragement’. Remember encouragement is a 2 way street, starts with
us taking up opportunities to do so with others and like a boomarang it
will come right back at you.
You were made for greatness — see it, live it, be it. Be an
encouragement today and everyday with someone; with a willingness to let
your gifts and talents flow and Iassure you it will come right back at
you.
Late last year, I spoke in Mauritius at a Sales Conference with
several international speakers. The main draw speaker was not me, he was
a speaker from the USA with more than 12 books under his belt, many of
them best sellers with more than a million copies sold of each. He spoke
with authority but somehow somewhat down at people. He still got
applause. I spoke with the poeple, bared myself (not literally) and
tried to encourage them that if someone like me could make it then even
more so could of any of them! When the end of my final speech came, I
got a standing ovation, no other speaker got not even the main draw. It
brought tears to my eyes ! When you encourage people, it comes back ten
fold !!!
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