5 Ways to Encourage Yourself!
/One of my favorite Scriptures about the topic of encouragement is from I Samuel 30:6 and tells the story of King David in a desperately discouraging time of his life journey. I love that the King James Version clearly states “but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.” That always struck me: HE ENCOURAGED HIMSELF IN THE LORD. No one else encouraged him until he sought encouragement first…hmmm!
Being solopreneurs can bring challenges and lows almost as often as the achievements and highs, especially in the early, sometimes-unstable days of running a business. Deep discouragement can happen often and comes on quickly. I’ve learned a few hacks over the years to combat the business-building blues and give us ways to turn our outlook around! And just as King David modeled for us…I’ve found that turning to the LORD OUR GOD to encourage ourselves FIRST is a powerful start!
Take a few minutes to listen to this quick video to gain FRESH insight on dealing with discouragement…
Here’s Coach Bess:
Here’s a quick recap of the tips I shared in the above quick-watch video…this was a Monday Motivation training for our free community of change-makers, the Health Coaches on a Mission!
When you just need some encouragement and need to “get outta the funk” try this …
Listen to TedX Talks, Sermons, Audio Books on Growth or Training, Inspiration, Affirmations
I have a playlist of these that I formed on Youtube (you can do this just about anywhere, on any app!)
One of the resources I mentioned in the video is the Channel on Youtube called Above Inspiration - click to follow them and hear these encouraging talks for yourself!
Another great example of this is Steven Furtick’s audio affirmation videos - they raise my emotional vibrations IMMEDIATELY when I put them on! You can find those here.
2. Worship While You Work!
In the same vein as the above tip - I’ve got several worship playlists I run through as go-to’s when encouragement is needed! Here’s one of them - I want to share it with you today - to give you some ideas.
Which worship songs greatly encourage you as you work through disappointments or trials? Please, share them with us in the comments for all of us to get FRESH ideas!
Worship songs for encouragement:
In Awe - Hollyn - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-ShjxmfeEs
Moving Forward - Israel Houghton - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQBjXG2B-_I
No Limits - Israel Houghton - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5gMiYGG5AE
Turn It Around - Israel Houghton - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cN1ReRCGJ4E
Even If - Mercy Me - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6fA35Ved-Y
Mention of Your Name - Jenn Johnson - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBrv6hKhdzg
You’re Gonna Be OK - Jenn Johnson - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjF9IqvXDjY
Trust in You - Lauren Daigle - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_aVFVveJNs
3. Meet Up With a Friend or Colleague
Call up that encouraging friend or colleague - chat over phone, grab lunch or even a cup of coffee - but get OUT, get away from your desk, your stresses and the problems facing you. Get poured into (as you pour into SO MANY others in your work and life!) You are NOT expected to have all the joy all the time, friend! You get to have down times where you are the one who needs a good encouraging talking to.
4. Finish Something!
Many times, the sheer amount of “unfinished” tasks staring us down from our calendars or to-do lists is enough to get us down in the dumps! This one “discouragement fix” has been a constant go-to for me personally. Could be my “achievement-focused” personality, but it works every time.
I take my list, look it over for a necessary to-do, but hopefully QUICK to accomplish task, and GET IT DONE!
OHHHH that is some encouragement! Suddenly, I’m less overwhelmed, my mind is focused now on action versus overthinking (if that’s been contributing to the discouragement - which in my case, many times it is!)
What about you - does FINISHING a task lift discouragement for you? Share your personal examples in the comments!
5. Ask For Help!
Sounds like this tip would be a no-brainer, but honestly, I forget this one!
REACH OUT! REACH UP! Just REACH!
Reach out to like-minded colleagues who “get it” or to your spouse or partner for moral support. Maybe call up your best friend. BUT be sure and reach UP (meaning to someone you would switch lives with or really look up to or aspire to be like!) Because when we are deeply discouraged, and we choose to “reach across” to someone who is not where we want to be, it can keep us discouraged or cause commiserating to happen.
Maybe in your asking for help, you need not only encouragement, but also help getting UNstuck - if so, you’d benefit from a business coach and remember, that’s what I love to do! And I do it well, with encouragement front and center. Let’s chat! You can always shoot me a message right here on the Contact page if you want to meet over the phone and figure out if coaching is what you need to get to your next success.
Whatever the reason for discouraging times in your business journey, remember that the BEST Business Adviser of all lives on the inside of you and is with you at all times, through all emotions and challenges! He is ready to advise you, comfort you and help YOU to RISE UP and encourage YOURSELF, just as King David did in dire times!
You are not alone in this journey. Thankful you have chosen to walk it with other Health Coaches on a Mission and me!
Big hugs & big belief ~ Coach Bess