A word on encouragement: Motivation Monday
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Today, I wanted some coffee.
Not just any brand of coffee. I
have that at home. Ground coffee from a
little known brand called Folger’s, and several pods from Green Mountain and
the flavor is Pumpkin Spice. These are my comfort coffees when it is 3 am
in the morning and I am pulling an all-nighter.
No, this coffee is Salted chocolate caramel with a little bit of whipped
cream from Starbucks, my favorite coffee place in life.
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| Photo by Ivory Mix |
As I entered the place not far from my home, I noticed
something that I have never seen before.
Little Post-it™ notes with
encouraging words on them. They had
sayings like “You are enough”, “Memaw loves you” (I guess she had hoped her
grandkids would come in to see it), and “You are Amazing, live your DREAM”. I wrote the last one when I found out that I
could do it too. in fact, I wrote 3
others as well; “You are beautiful, you are smart, you are loved”, “Love
everyone no matter who they are”, and the last one I cannot think of.
Why do I think this is the coolest thing in life….
Lately, there has been so much discouragement in the
world. From the White House to school,
Home to Work, and even in the streets, people are getting meaner and
meaner. If you are a Christian and know
your bible, you know the prophecy, and even if you do not, you know that
something big is about to happen. It cannot
stay like this forever. People still need
to know that they are loved, that they matter, and whatever they have cooked up
positive in their brain is the best thing for them right now until something
better comes along.
Everyone Needs Encouragement…
Say, you had a bad day at work. You got up late, traffic was
at a standstill on the freeway, or you had clients who just did not want to
hear your ideas about how to make their business grow. These are stressful in itself. Now, imagine your day being just a little bit
brighter when you see a happy video, someone paying for your meal without
asking, or handing you a note saying that you are enough. How would you feel then? It would make you
happy, appreciated, and ready to tackle the next task.
When I saw my first positive note in Starbucks today, then
another, and still another one, my whole face lit up like a Christmas tree. I have been struggling with my business for a
month getting clients, taking on something that is possible, but not too impossible,
and dealing with a couple of news stories that just sicken my stomach to no
end. Seeing those notes made me feel
better, and it was as if God told me that I needed to stop by and leave some
myself to encourage others.
You do not need a Starbucks to start your own Encouragement
Campaign….
I saw my first note of this kind, not in Starbucks, but on
an overpass on the freeway in my city. The pink sign said, “You are worthy”. I smiled as I passed under it. I had heard that
a woman and her children were leaving little posters for drivers to see as they
pass by. I did not overthink it. I accepted it and went about my day, knowing
that someone was thoughtful enough to think about others.
Think about the last time someone has done something
positive for you. it could be anything
from a loved one giving you some positive advice to someone paying it forward. Now, I do not advise that you go buying a
round of drinks for the whole bar or contribute to something that may harm a
person, that can be disastrous, and you may not forgive yourself in the
morning. One time, I gave a ride to a
stranger who was applying to the same job that I was. The last bus had left for the day, and the
express buses did not go on that side of town.
It was on my way home, and I did not mind. I also did not think about the danger of it
either. She was in good company. I also waved my right to not accept payment
from the woman because she may need the funds tomorrow, and I had my parents
who could buy me gas for my car. I also
did it because I overheard the woman tell another person that she needed a ride
home.
Paying it forward does not have to include funds.
My example did not require me to reach into my pocket and
buy a person their next meal. A few
months ago, someone paid for my parent’s dinner without asking. The key is
- You do it in good
faith. Do not have the idea that you have to do it. Some example is,
if someone did a RAK (Random Act of Kindness) to you and you feel the need
to do it to someone else, you got a raise, and for Christians because
Jesus commands us to do it automatically without prompts. You never know how a person may be feeling when the act is done to them.
- The person receiving it
does not know that the RAK is happening. It is unexpected because humans are naturally mean, right?
Three weeks ago, and a friend of mine asked for prayer with
a problem that she is dealing with at her job.
Of course, the natural course of someone for me is to pray for her and
the situation. Last week, I was in Hobby
Lobby (one of my many favorite stores (I was born with money in my mouth-I am
getting better), and I saw this plaque that you sit on your desk. It
had the perfect saying for her to keep pushing and not give up. I bought it.
I was prompted because my friend was not her usual cheerful self
(situations can put you in one nasty mood, I am going through one right now),
and I felt like it because I needed a pick me up as well. That is the third component to the whole
encouraging act or RAK, you feel good at the task. You are not thinking about yourself and your
situation. You are thinking about the end goal of cheering someone up. You are putting your situation to the side to
think of others.
I want to let you know one other thing:
- RAKs are a good thing and
encouraging others is a good thing as well.
- They do not cost any amount
of money. In fact, they should be
free, but no one is punishing you if you pay for a meal or two for someone
else.
- Companies are starting to
see this as a good thing as well.
i.e. Starbucks
- You never will know the
outcome. Someone may do it to you.
- Do not expect a thing.
