Let's Talk about Encouragement

A conversation with Sarah Salway

We have been talking about encouragement for about four years now. And by talking, we mean gently, quietly, and unassumingly getting on with it … the encouraging, not-so-much the talking.

But, how do folk find out about your stuff if you don’t do some actual talking? Sometimes, you need to say the words out loud to make them heard, to spread the ripples.

Photo by Linus Nylund on Unsplash

Often, it is only when you say the words aloud that your endeavour starts to feel like an actual ‘thing’.

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So, [deep breath], we said “yes” to a couple of amazing invitations.

First up, a gentle conversation with

Sarah Salway

for ‘Everyday Words’.

In the Summer, we’ll be talking about Encouragement at the Love Trails Festival (okay, so we are excited/scared/thrilled/terrified about that). But more of that another time.

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Everyday Words

Poet and novelist, Sarah Salway offers writing prompts, recommendations and reading suggestions every month with paying subscribers receiving weekly Everyday Words writing workshops designed to fit into a coffee (or wine) break.

‘Prompts, recommendations, and suggestions’ … the perfect kinds of encouragement. You can see why we jumped at the chance to have a conversation with Sarah (there are other wonderful chats to catch up on, including one with

Mark Diacono

who always offers delightful words of wisdom … a hard act to follow).

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6 Things I Said (which might be useful)

1. We have released ourselves from the things that were tying us down (holding us back).

2. What do you do with the freedoms you create?

3. Unlock opportunities for the way you want to live your life.

4. We all have choices.

5. (Odd though it seems, we all seem to need to ask someone else for) Permission to do the things that create a spark in us.

6. Live your values in public. Be consistent.

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Quote Me Happy

“Don’t allow the negative voices to be the foghorn that stops you from hearing the sound of the waves on the shore”

- Mr Fables

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The Conversation

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The Encouragement Sessions

Sarah and I talked about the Encouragement Sessions, which I have described as a “handful of tangfastics for the soul”. We hosted sixteen conversations in January. We will be opening up a few sessions towards the end of February. Here’s a little more on what they’re about:

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Who can you encourage today?

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