ABSTRACT
The word encouragement belongs to a group of words with the prefix “en,” indicating a goal or purpose. For example, the word enlighten means to teach or make clear; enable means to make one able, etc. The word encourage similarly means to make one courageous. So, the encouragement process is related to the attention we give to ourselves or others give to us in order to help us behave with courage. This process, of course, is related to each individual’s feelings of encouragement and, as such, is related to an outcome. If I look at you and speak positively while recognizing your individuality and you feel better as a result, this is a form of encouragement. Encouragement brings about a change in your inner thought processes.1 Encouragement increases your feelings of self-worth and strengthens your faith in your abilities and leads you to the conclusion, “I am who I am and that’s good enough” and to the conviction, “I can.”
