Encouragement

Encouragement refers to "instilling courage".  The point of encouraging someone is to motivate them to continue a specific desired behavior.  We all need encouragement.  We all need to be reminded that we can do something or should do something.  Often times we lack confidence and we need a nudge or even a shove to do something.  We need courage.  Encouragement only exists when the receiver of the encouragement becomes more "courageous".  We fail to encourage when we attempt to encourage in the manner that works for us but it doesn't work for the person we are encouraging.  In order to be an effective "encourager", our focus must be on the person's needs and not our own desires.  We need to know the person well enough to know what encourages them or gives them courage.  We also must love them enough to take the time to encourage them and not merely tell them what they need to do.