3 Points to Ponder
- Encouragement is reciprocal in nature. The more you give, the more you receive. How easily does genuine encouragement come from you? What is holding you back from leaning into this?
- Simple gestures have a profound impact, compounding over time. What is a simple gesture you could do today? And tomorrow?
- We all need tangible reminders of who we are and why we matter. When your thoughts go astray, leading you into darkness or “stinking thinking,” what is your mechanism to pull you back to the truth? If you don’t have one, how can you develop a healthy habit around this?
2 Quotes to Share
“The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.” – Oscar Wilde
“Carry each other’s burdens.” – Galatians 6:2
1 Story of Impact
A rustle filled the quiet space as I unfolded the first of several small, white envelopes. Across from me, behind my computer screen, the layered wallpaper of past encouragements seemed to lean in, a silent chorus anticipating the words to come. Kate, the Many Hands Board President, had beamed as she presented the stack. “Inspired by your 3, 2, 1 Impact,” she’d explained, “we wanted to offer you and your team these notes of encouragement – our small act of heeding your call to reach out without hesitation.” Each letter was an open hand, clasping mine in support. Some phrases sparked inspiration. Others painted vivid aspirations. A few offered pointed truths, delivered with love. And many were simple, heartfelt affirmations. But the true resonance came in knowing that these tangible expressions of care weren’t just for me; my leadership team, each navigating their challenges, had also received these personal anchors. A deep joy settled within me, a quiet gratitude for this unexpected wellspring. In front of me at my desk, the backdrop of handwriting – my daughter’s staccato script, a friend’s bold declaration, a mentor’s steady hand – serves as more than mere decoration.
It’s the constant fuel for my impact, a reminder of truth whispered across time. In my own Impact Journey, this tangible collection is a vital source. When life’s waters churn and threaten to pull me under, I often reread these penned promises, these ink-stained affirmations of purpose. If the world feels like a relentless tide right now, I urge you to reach for the simple power of pen and paper. Let your thoughts flow into words of encouragement for another. Done not from duty, but from a place of genuine care, this small act can unleash a ripple of impact, buoying both the receiver and the giver beyond the immediate waves of uncertainty.
