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How Substack feels made for Encouragement
There are a few more of you peering in at this than there would have been if I had written it yesterday. Thank you for being here … but thank YOU to
for including ‘Encouragement Meant’ in the excellent ‘Five Things on Friday’. The ‘Friday’ things were sent out on Saturday, which is precisely the kind of newsletter anarchy we love - and James has earned the right as he sent out Edition 350 to his mighty audience. Anyhoo, thank you.Spoiler alert, we love encouragement. It is our superpower, I suppose. Celebrating other folk’s creative endeavours, shouting up for others, and reminding people that they are allowed to do more of the things that bring them joy.
It turns out
does that too.Imagine receiving this comment about one of your short stories:
The best of Flash Fiction is this post. Immediately pulls one in. Is a complete story. Has a 'surprise' or twist ending.
Comment about ‘Dear Diary’
I’m not going to lie. I think I may have teared up. You see, we are the ones who do the kind words around here. We’re the folk who find just the right moment to boost someone with a well-placed compliment.
But I needed some encouragement for my side project (Just Write, Right), the one that is all about allowing myself to do more of what brings me joy.
Even encouragers need encouragement.
And it turns out, Substack is ALL about encouragement. We feel like we’ve come home.
So, Encouragement is a Superpower?
People need a boost, fact - do you?
(How do we know? Well, we’ve lived 2 years of Encouragement Sessions)
There is the young entrepreneur who, with his brother the farmer, is bringing a stunning Greek olive oil to the market place. It truly is an elixir. A magic potion. Even better, it is produced using regenerative techniques that they have reintroduced to communities that had lost their way to ‘scale’. But the perennial issue of pricing weighed heavily on the young entrepreneur. Cue, some enthusiastic confidence-building arm waving on a Zoom call.
Take the artist who has built a culturally curious community with her husband but for whom financial challenges threaten the sustainability of their academy. Encouragement Sessions have offered a reminder that art has value and people will pay for it. It was a necessary reminder to value her time, creativity and practice so others would too.
A writer’s block in an unbroken sequence of Christmas tales for the family? A starting line here, a paragraph to build on there. Practical encouragement.
The special needs practitioner who was slowly but surely being stifled by the pressures of the more senior role they always aspired to. Too tired to write or paint to let some air out of the over-inflated tyres (because “pressure is for tyres”). Encouragement is the nudge, the reminder that we should all be doing more of the thing(s) that bring us joy.
The thoughtful, sensitive man creating a pathway for men to look inside themselves for a better way of living. His brilliant ideas to bring men together in poetry, conversation and mutual support - retreats to allow themselves to emerge - were hidden behind a confusing title. Encouragement was pointing out that it is his journey that counts. He is the individual who can unlock the door. Time to make sure it is his name above the door, his journey as the beacon for others to follow.
Encouragement. We ALL need it
Over the past 2 years, there have been over 150 unique conversations founded on the premise of ‘Encouragement’.
Our Encouragement Manifesto gently evolved. We captured values to live by and asked people to write about them so we could amplify voices not always heard. It became clear that some of the people behind those voices - some of the folk we were keen to celebrate - needed some encouragement to do their *thing*.
Artists, writers, coaches, community builders, creatives … so many people needing ‘permission to do the things that bring them joy’.
That’s how the Encouragement Sessions came into being.
At the heart of the Sessions are the values that had underpinned our small business life:
Artwork by Hannah
Tell me again, what is an Encouragement Session?
What
Hour-long Zoom calls with an enthusiastic, optimistic, and experienced strategic thinker
When
When folk get in touch and ask for them. Do ask … we really mean it!
How (much)
Free at the point of use, save for a hope that folk will ‘pay it forward’ through kindness to others.
Why
Because everyone needs to test their ideas, kickstart their creativity, push forward beyond a blockage, and find new energy. A ‘handful of tangfastics’ can sharpen someone’s enthusiasm
You Might Have Missed
We try to capture and share lessons from the Sessions
We hoped that the spirit that inspired the Encouragement Sessions would create ripples of generosity … our hopes have been wildly exceeded by the kindred spirits who have shared the journey with us
What they say
“The encouragement sessions have been like a little window into my parallel life, the one that I yearn for, that is filled with energy, positivity, and creativity. Barrie - I’ve really enjoyed the meandering conversations, the extraordinary tangents, the recommendations, and the simplicity of the core messages you’ve shared. I’ve always gone away feeling energised and with more direction and purpose.” (@eatbetterwithbriony)
Those comments you received are so heartwarming
Wow! This is so very wonderful and uplifting! 🙏