Master Encouragers

Cliché’s like, “there’s no “I” in team,” remind us that it is absolutely impossible to accomplish anything of great significance on our own. Any form of success we’ve had in life is likely in part attributable to people who believed in us. They were personally invested in the fulfillment of our potential.

I call these people, “Master Encouragers.” Who are Master Encouragers? They come from all walks of life. But I think the people in the best position to be Master Encouragers are parents, teachers, coaches and friends. They are with us daily during our formative years and ideally should see us through the steepest portions of our learning curve for not only academics and social skills but moral character. Sadly in our society this form of encouragement is rare. Master Encouragers come alongside us at just the right time and in just the right way offering their time, skill, resources or expertise in an attitude of love and compassion. The words and positive expectations of these precious people shape our lives to bring about extraordinary results

The most positive words spoken into my life came in the form of a question from a Master Encourager,, “what University will you go to?” The question itself wasn’t profound but the timing and context was. It was asked just three years after medical professionals predicted that I would never walk, talk, read, write or go to a regular school as a result of having cerebral palsy. I was in grade one at the time with no certainty that I would even complete public school. My parents had been advised to place me in an institution. But that question, “What university will you go to? spoken to me by my teacher in grade one, created positive expectations for the achievement of a B.A. and a Master’s degree several years later.

Of course, the positive expectations were accompanied by much hard work and the support of other Master Encouragers along the way. But the hard work was built on a foundation of positive life giving words spoken by a personally invested Master Encourager who is still a treasured friend today.

The challenges you are facing today, regardless of what they are, are very real. Positive words will not be all that is required to turn them into opportunities. It may also require a lot of hard work, patience and perseverance. But remember, positive, life giving words filled with positive expectations, are the foundation upon which all of your hard work must be built.

Don’t wait! Be your own Master Encourager!!! Start talking back to your obstacles today en route to creating extraordinary results for tomorrow!!

- Terry Harris

Diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy when he was two years old, Terry Harris in the opinion of many experts within the medical and education professions, would never walk, talk, read, write or go to a regular school. It was recommended to his parents that he beplaced in an institution. In 1995 Terry graduated from Brock University with a B.A. in English Literature and obtained a degree in marriage and family therapy in 1999 from Tyndale Seminary. Today Terry coordinates an academic support program for children of offenders with the John Howard Society of Kingston.