Yesterday, we talked about gratitude and how it shifts our perspective. Today, I want to take you a little deeper—to the moments when life feels heavy and gratitude becomes more than just a nice idea; it becomes a lifeline. Encouraging yourself is building a habit that helps you manage stress, deepen your faith, and stay anchored in truth. Here’s how I do it.
1. Speaking God’s Word Over Myself
There are moments when I can’t sit down with my Bible—when I’m in the middle of a task, on the go, or feeling overwhelmed. But that doesn’t stop me from reminding myself of God’s promises.
A few scriptures I lean on:
📖 2 Peter 1:3 – His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.
📖 Ephesians 1:3 – Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
📖 Psalm 91:15-16 – He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life, I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.
Sometimes, I make the verses personal, speaking them out loud like a conversation with God.
“I will call upon the Lord, and He will answer me. He is with me in trouble.” (Me, reminding myself of His promise.)
“With long life, I will satisfy you and show you My salvation.” (God, reassuring me with a smile.)
This simple practice centers me. It reminds me that I already have everything I need, and that realization alone fills me with gratitude, security, and peace.
2. Storing Up Encouragement for the Hard Days
I write. A lot. My go-to is Google Keep, where I jot down quick thoughts, gratitude moments, and snippets of encouragement to my future self. It’s my digital treasure chest—a place to store the good so it can carry me through the not-so-good.
Whenever I scroll through my notes, I find reminders of what I already have, moments of joy in unexpected places, and proof that God has always been faithful. Writing gives me something to look forward to—it shifts my focus from my problems to the goodness that’s already in my life. And when gratitude is stored up, stress loses its power.
3. Encouraging Others (Because It Encourages Me, Too)
Sometimes, a simple text or call can change everything—for me and for the person on the other end. When I send a quick “Hey, I was thinking about you today” or share something that blessed me, it starts a ripple effect.
One text I sent recently:
“I got reminded today that God is interested in you. In who you are right now, what you’re doing, and what interests you. The whole you. The good, ugly, messy, beautiful you. That made me smile today. Hope it makes you smile, too. I think I’m blushing.”
The responses? “This is what I needed.” “Wow, thanks, sis.” “I really needed to hear this today.”
Sometimes, the encouragement I give comes right back to me. God works like that.
4. Filling My Atmosphere With Joy
Music. Laughter. Worship. These are powerful tools against stress and worry. When I need a reset, I put on a song that lifts me up or find something that makes me laugh. Sometimes, the best way to encourage myself is to simply shift my environment.
5. Writing My Way Into Encouragement
Sometimes, encouragement comes in the form of an idea—a spark of gratitude that reminds me of what I already have or what I can look forward to. So I will write it down. It could be a thought, a goal, or just a moment I want to hold onto. When I put it into words, it gives me something to expect, something to lift my eyes beyond whatever is weighing me down.
Like the other day, I thought, “What if “Thankful for Zizi” was written for adults . What would that look like?
It would be full of reminders of what we already have…
It would be filled with stories of happy times , or joy when one should have classified it as pain.
…….it would be digging deep into the child in each one of us.
I can only imagine what it would be like .
because we all have a story inside us to tell……”
This practice helps me see beyond the present moment. It reminds me that there is joy ahead, that life has more to offer, and that I always have something to look forward to. Writing is a simple act, but it keeps my focus on what is good, and that changes everything.
Join Me & The Other Chief Encouragement Officers
I’ll be sharing more about that (the book) soon with my CEO’s (other Chief Encouragement Officers).It is really exciting . My dear CEO, encourage yourself! Be your biggest cheerleader . Let’s build each other up and store up the good together. 💛
Tell me—how do you encourage yourself? Drop a comment below!
