When we seek to discover the best in others, we somehow bring out the best in ourselves.
— William Arthur Ward
We can decide to become someone who is actively looking to encourage others. When we look for the good in others — and then express it to them — it helps us to think less often about ourselves and more often about others.
Michelangelo is often quoted as having said that inside every block of stone or marble dwells a beautiful statue; one need only remove the excess material to reveal the work of art within. If we apply this concept to how we see and treat people, we start to see, listen and accept people as they are. It's appreciating their differences and wanting to help them grow and become what they are capable of being.
Encouraging others is a way to give someone support, confidence, and hope. It's an act to make people notice that they have been seen and heard. It’s something you want from others, and the best way to get it is to give it.
What better way to provide value to others than to put their needs front and center?