“Wow, great job running today, keep it up!”
vs.
“You consistency and persistence week after week with the running that you are doing has really inspired me in my own pursuits. Thank you for that!”
To encourage seems generous, and it can be. In reality though,, it’s often a passing comment – an outside assurance.
When we express our personal gratitude though, it is something else. This requires vulnerability, and opens the door to share how we were moved.
Small comments of encouragement don’t tend to take a person far, but seeing the deeper levels of work or effort that has been put in, and acknowledging when this has positively impacted us can be powerful.
