Encouragers post
Encouragement is not just about cheering ourselves on, but about reshaping the way we think and respond to challenges. Instead of letting that inner critic dominate, we can build a voice that says, “Yes, you can.”
Research by Attarung (2025) highlights that focusing on growth and action rather than outcomes nurtures intrinsic motivation. This means finding satisfaction within the process itself rather than chasing external rewards.
Take a look at the Encouragement Techniques and Effectiveness chart above. Each method gives us a way to reframe our thinking and move forward with confidence:
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Strength Reflection – Remind yourself of your existing abilities.
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Future Visualization – Picture yourself succeeding.
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Storytelling – Draw from inspiring stories.
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Goal Breaking – Divide big challenges into small, doable steps.
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Positive Language Use – Use motivating words and reframe negatives.
I’d like you to share:
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Which one of these you want to try out and why.
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Which one you’ve already used and the progress you noticed.
Here’s a quick example: If your mind tells you, “You’re so stupid, you repeated your grocery list,” you can flip it to, “Ah, I repeated that—looks like I’m making sure I don’t forget,” then add a smiley face. It lightens the moment and keeps the inner critic from stealing your progress.
The Use of Language in Encouragement: A Psycholinguistic Perspective - name of article
I would like to try Strength Reflection & Future Visualization as they seem a compatible progressive technique to me. One will remind me of my strength and the other one will help framing thoughts for future based on these abilities. Other mentioned techniques sound very effective as well and varies person to person based on their comfort level and point of view.
Excellent x
@GoldenRuleJG
i have never heard of these techniques before!! what a cool topic!
@Heather225
Me neither - I could not give names. We all may have used these in for example interviews :)
It was a very interesting read; the journal :)
@GoldenRuleJG
I could definitely stand to focus more on Goal Breaking. It is a struggle of mine.
Positive Language Use is a regular technique that has significantly improved my ability to reframe and turn situations around.
@Heather225
I find that difficult to - im more of a lets just throw every idea ive got together!
I found ticking boxes useful in inspiring the "happy chemicals" to motivate me a bit - I will give myself a smiley for doing the plan with examples, then another smiley for doing the draft and completing it.
I used to be obsessed with stickers when i was younger when i used to plays "school teacher" with friends.
Give yourself some treats :)
Thank you for your feedback
@GoldenRuleJG
I would love to try out storytelling for sure!
💜💕
Yes Amanda - good stuff!
Interested to know how it goes x
@GoldenRuleJG
Thanks for sharing this post!
I have chosen 5. positive language use
for my challenge.
I noticed that when I say to myself, “I [get to] ______(task)_______.” that the task goes better, because it is indeed a privilege to be able to do certain things like watering the garden, making a salad, drinking a glass of water, doing my exercises, work on a chapter of my book, etc.. Just a simple rephrasing helps with jump-starting the action.
Thank you again for your care to post this for us.
With love and courage,
Calm Rosebud
Yes that’s a delightful way to put it Rosebud 😊
I’ve done the difficult stuff *pat on the back now I get to have fun doing the easier stuff 😀
Hi, Golden! I don’t think I explained it well in my passage. I was meaning to replace the words: Have to (responsibility, heaviness, obligation) with Get to (liberation, agency, freedom of choice). I don’t think I made that clear. When I say: I have to do chores, it has a whole different feeling than: I get to do chores.
Rosebud thank you for your reflection - why do face the task with excitement?! X Why does it have to be a chore right?! Put on a nice song, hum, sing and do chores.
Great reflection xx
Lovely graphic - I’m happy you found the post helpful.
Thank you for your reflection x
@GoldenRuleJG
thank you so much!
Pleasure - thanks for reading it penguin 🐧☺️
@GoldenRuleJG
I think the one that I need to do the most is positive language use. Saying positive things to reinforce the fact that I can do things is important because I use so much negative self-talk. Praising for the good things that I do is important. I'd also say trying to turn the negative talk around on myself is something that is needed. I can be so negative and hard on myself and that does nothing but set myself up for failure.
@enthusiasticTangerine147
Hi there thank you for being honest - its hard to get out of your head.
"So far ive completed X"
"I've made a plan on what I will put into action today x"
"I learnt something new today"
"I only have X amount left to get done - you can do a checklist"
<3
Thanks for the post. I'll try some techniques to see if I can do something
Lovely Edward - yes!
What I've already tried: Future visualization, since it's a way in which I've been able to focus on what I can do now to succeed, to achieve a desirable goal.
What I can try: Storytelling, since I've been interested in start writing more, so it helps me reflect on what I believe or what I've learned, because I get more motivated to write when the story is inspired in something I'm familiar with.
