Have you ever attended a sporting event and while there listened to parents as they spoke to their children during the event? Are there times that you cringe when you hear some of them speak? I know I do.

There are three types of parents I hear at events; the encourager, the de-motivator, and the indifferent. (I am using sports events as an example, yet we can see this with teachers, managers, clergy, friends, etc.)

The encourager yells out words such as, “that’s ok; you will get it next time.” Don’t give up, I believe in you”

The de-motivator will yell “get the ants out of your pants”. “Are you blind?” “How could you have missed that?”

The indifferent is silent. They do not really want to be there and will be doing paperwork, texting, talking on cell phone, but definitely not encouraging their child in any way. They are usually the ones, when the child asks, “did you see that”, that the parents says “Yes” to cover themselves.

The child learns from their parent’s behavior. They truly believe everything that their family says that they are. Call them stupid, and then they think that they are stupid. Tell them that they are the smartest thing that ever walked the earth, and then they believe it.

Now, think how you feel when someone gives you a positive boast of encouragement. Think of how much more you get done, then if they did not say anything.

There is a good friend in my life that will email me just to say “I am proud of you”! That’s it, five words. The impact that these five words have on me is incredible. What are these words saying?  The are saying:

I believe in you.

I love you.

I am your friend.

I enjoy seeing your success.

Five words. No more.

How much more can the De-Motivator and the Indifferent impact someone’s life just be saying “I love you”. “I am proud of you”.

I am not sure if I would have gotten as far as I have with some of the things I have done in my life without someone in the background encouraging me. Telling me it is ok if things are not perfect. Again, failure is an event, not a person.

Today, take a moment, and make one encouraging comment to someone “just because”. See how that person reacts with delight and surprise. Go ahead, I dare you!