Newport Healthcare Resources, Verywell Mind, Jan 26, 2024

A little bit of positivity goes a long way
By Sanjana Gupta

A few words of encouragement can often go a long way toward cheering someone on, in good times and bad. Encouraging them can be a powerful way to show them you care about them and support them.

Offering positive support through words of encouragement strengthens emotional bonds and helps nurture relationships, says Kristin Wilson, MA, LPC, CCTP, RYT, Chief Experience Officer at Newport Healthcare.

“Encouragement offers motivation, boosts confidence, creates a sense of security, and reinforces a person’s worth and capabilities.” – Kristin Wilson, MA, LPC, CCTP, RYT

We know that sometimes, the right words can be hard to find. You want to show someone your support but you feel awkward, don’t want to sound disingenuous, and get stuck on what to say. Don’t worry, we’ve got you! In this article, we suggest some words of encouragement you can use to support a friend, partner, child, or coworker.

At a Glance

It’s important to cheer on your loved ones. Showing them your support and offering them words of encouragement can motivate them to do better and meet their goals. Make it a point to compliment their efforts, regardless of the outcome.

Go, get your cheer on!

How to Provide Words of Encouragement

These are some tips that can help you find the right words to encourage someone:

• Listen actively: Listen actively and pay attention to what the person is saying. Understand their concerns and challenges, so you can provide encouragement that specifically addresses their needs.
• Acknowledge their efforts: Recognize the effort someone is putting into a task or goal, regardless of the outcome. Appreciate how hard they’ve worked on something.
• Show them you see them: Instead of giving the person generic praise, give them a specific compliment based on their abilities, strengths, or potential. Make them feel like you see them.
• Be genuine: Authenticity matters. When you encourage someone or praise their efforts, say something you really mean, instead of saying something for the sake of it.
• Focus on the positive: Instead of focusing on something that’s gone wrong, focus on the bright side and encourage them to stay positive.
• Offer help: If you can, offer practical help or assistance. Sometimes, just knowing that you’re there for them can be incredibly reassuring.
• Be patient: If the person reacts negatively to your words of encouragement or rejects them, try to be understanding, says Wilson. “Avoid taking it personally or becoming defensive. Be open to discussing their concerns or reasons for the negative reaction and express your willingness to support them in a way that meets their needs.”

100 Words of Encouragement to Use

These are some phrases you can use to encourage your friends, children, coworkers, or partners. Notice how simple and straightforward many of them are. You don’t have to be a poet, a great speaker, or a natural motivator to have an impact.

We may not admit it, but we usually like to be encouraged and feel reassured that someone has our back. It’s easier to be there for someone—even in small ways—than you might think.

For a Coworker

If you’re someone who feels awkward about outward encouragement, and thus feel awkward providing it, know that you’re not alone! But think about times you have been encouraged or complimented about your work. After the awkwardness, it felt pretty good, right?

Here are some helpful words of encouragement for a coworker, whether you are congratulating someone on a job well done or are a manager trying to get the best out of your team:

1. Great work!
2. Your hard work is paying off.
3. The passion you bring to your work is inspiring.
4. You’re a true team player.
5. Thank you for going above and beyond on this project.
6. The way you handled that task was impressive.
7. Your contributions to the team have been really helpful.
8. Your commitment to this project is commendable.
9. Your knowledge and expertise in this area have been invaluable.
10. Your ideas are refreshing, keep them coming!
11. Your work is making a huge impact.
12. You have a strong work ethic that I really admire.
13. Your can-do approach is really motivating the rest of the team.
14. Your positivity and optimism are contagious.
15. Your attention to detail is flawless, keep it up!
16. Your leadership inspires confidence.
17. We’re lucky to have you on board.
18. I trust your ability to handle this project.
19. I have confidence in your decision-making skills.
20. I’m seeing a significant improvement in your performance.
21. Thanks for working on the feedback I shared, I can see the difference.
22. Your professional and personal growth have been significant.
23. Don’t be discouraged by setbacks, you can do this!
24. Even though the deal fell through, it was not for lack of your effort.
25. Your calm and collected approach was really helpful during the crisis.

This kind of encouragement won’t just make someone feel better, it can make them happier workers too. Research shows that encouraging employees improves their commitment to their job.

For a Friend

These are some words of encouragement for a friend. You know them best, so feel free to improvise based on the situation or the kind of encouragement you know they have responded to in the past:

 

1. Good luck! You’re going to do great.
2. Break a leg! Go out there and wow them.
3. You killed it! That was amazing.
4. Congratulations, I’m so happy for you!
5. You had the courage to follow your dreams.
6. You stuck to your guns, good for you!
7. Shine on!
8. One step at a time, you’re almost there!
9. Don’t worry, you can do this!
10. Keep at it, you’ve got this!
11. I have no doubt that you’ll be great at this.
12. This is tough, but you’re definitely tougher.
13. It sucks that you have to go through this, but I know you can do it.
14. Things will get better, hang in there!
15. Whatever the universe has in store for you is going to be amazing.
16. Trust the process, it’ll work out.
17. Good vibes coming your way.
18. Sending you big hugs and happy thoughts.
19. You’re in my thoughts today.
20. I’m here for you no matter what.
21. Just pick up the phone if you need me.
22. Your friendship is important to me.
23. You have a heart of gold.
24. You’re such a pure soul.
25. You make the world a better place.

For a Partner

A romantic partner is usually one of the most important people in our lives, if not the most important. A big part of maintaining a healthy long-term relationship is letting your partner know you are there for them, whatever they might be going through. If your partner’s love language is words of affirmation, this kind of verbal reinforcement can be even more critical. These are some words of encouragement for a partner:

 

1. I believe in you, you’ve got this!
2. You’re not alone, we’re in this together.
3. I’m with you every step of the way.
4. I support you no matter what.
5. Together, we can do anything.
6. I’m grateful to have you by my side.
7. I’m so lucky to have you in my life.
8. I know I can always count on you.
9. You’ve never let me down.
10. You’re my rock, and I appreciate your support.
11. Thanks for everything you do for me.
12. Thank you for sharing that with me.
13. You inspire me to be a better person.
14. You make my life better in so many ways.
15. Your kindness makes the world a better place.
16. Your thoughtfulness never fails to amaze me.
17. You have such a big heart.
18. You’re beautiful inside and out.
19. You brighten up my days.
20. You make me so happy.
21. You make me look forward to each day.
22. You’re so special to me.
23. You’re such a good listener.
24. You make me feel seen and supported.
25. I have so much to learn from you.

For a Child

The great thing about giving encouragement to kids is you don’t have to worry about the kind of sheepish self-conscious reactions you may get from an adult. Children are more earnest, more literal, and won’t have nearly as many complicated feelings about receiving words of encouragement. These are some words of encouragement for a child:

1. Good job!
2. There you go!
3. You’re doing great.
4. Keep up the good work.
5. You’re such a smart cookie.
6. You’re so brave.
7. I’m so proud of you.
8. You’re awesome, you can do this!
9. Good luck today!
10. Go for it!
11. Be good today.
12. Make me proud.
13. I know you’ll do the right thing.
14. Try, try, try!
15. You can do anything if you put your mind to it.
16. You can be anything you want to be.
17. The sky’s the limit.
18. I love you no matter what.
19. It didn’t go well, but you learnt something important today.
20. Mistakes are part of the learning process. Don’t beat yourself up.
21. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
22. Tomorrow will be a better day.
23. Hang in there!
24. Don’t give up, you can do this.
25. Do your best, leave the rest.

Research shows that encouraging students improves their academic performance and self-efficacy.

Parting Words

These words and phrases can help you encourage your loved ones through the ups and downs of life. You can use these phrases, or find your own. Either way, they’ll appreciate it if you genuinely mean it. Your support and understanding will probably mean more to them than you know.
Sanjana Gupta is a health writer and editor. Her work spans various health-related topics, including mental health, fitness, nutrition, and wellness.

Article originally published on verywellmind.com.