- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
To encourage someone literally means to give courage.
The word comes from the Old French encoragier — the prefix en- meaning “to put in,” and corage meaning “heart.”
In the Greek New Testament, the word carries a similar meaning — to come alongside someone to give strength and comfort.
Encouragement is not flattery. Not empty praise. Not exaggeration. We give sincere encouragement to boost a person's confidence, improve their mood, and build resilience.
We all need someone who believes in us when we doubt ourselves. And today, people need encouragement more than ever.
We live in a high-pressure, comparison-driven, digitally distracted world. Many people are carrying quiet stress about their work, family, health, and relationships. Outwardly they say they’re fine. Inwardly they’re exhausted.
Encouragement is oxygen for the human spirit, and we all run low from time to time.
So, here is a simple solution: Encourage Someone Today.
Not with a text. Not with an email. With a handwritten card.
Why handwritten? Because it forces you to slow down and focus on one person at a time. You can’t multitask when writing a handwritten note. You must pause. Choose the card. Write a message. Address the envelope. Buy the stamp. Mail it. That investment of time and effort says something powerful: You matter to me.
In a world of instant messages and disappearing notifications, a handwritten note is rare. And rare things are valuable.
A text says, “I thought of you.” A handwritten card says, “I made time for you.” That difference is meaningful.
A handwritten note also creates something digital communication cannot — it becomes a keepsake.
Unlike an email message buried in a thread or deleted with a swipe, a card can be saved, tucked into a drawer, pinned to a bulletin board, displayed on a desk, and reread on a difficult day.
It becomes a physical reminder of their strength and your belief in them.
When someone feels unseen or discouraged, holding a card in their hands can feel like someone standing beside them saying, “You’ve got this.”
And there is another benefit: Encouragement strengthens both the giver and the receiver.
Handwriting slows our mind. It redirects our attention to what’s right in our world instead of what’s wrong. Expressing appreciation also increases gratitude and connection. And when we drop the note in the mail, we feel encouraged too.
You don’t need to write a page. Three or four sincere sentences are enough:
Tell them what you see.
Tell them why it matters.
Tell them what you believe about them.
Empty praise creates dependence. Specific encouragement builds confidence.
Most of us can remember a card we received years ago — from a parent, a teacher, a coach, a friend, or someone at work.
We remember how it made us feel. Some of us still have those notes.
Today, I encourage you to create one of those moments for someone else.
Not because it’s required. Not because it’s your job. But because someone around you will benefit from your encouragement.
Each week thousands of leaders read these articles. Imagine what would happen if even a small percentage of us paused today and wrote one handwritten note.
Next week, hundreds of people will open their mailbox and find:
A reminder that we care.
Evidence that someone believes in them.
Encouragement to keep going.
We may never know how much our words matter but we will know this: Our day will be a little better when we write it and their day will be a little better when they read it.
So, ask yourself: Who can I encourage today? Don’t over think it. Write your words of encouragement to whoever comes to mind when you ask that question.
Years from now, we may forget what we wrote but they will never forget what we said.
Let's Get Better Together,
Bill Durkin, Founder
One Positive Place
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