Encouragement vs. Discouragement
Recently a friend who returned from South Africa told me this story. She met a woman, who had a lovely voice and composed her own songs but used to sing only for herself, family, and friends. One day someone commented to her that she ought to share her gift with others by becoming a professional. The woman is now a popular singer with recordings. All it took for her musical success was a verbal nudge.
Encouragement is powerful and intimate. The etymology of the word shows this: “cour” is heart.” To encourage someone is to put heart into them, to give them courage, to lift their spirits. We do this by showing confidence in someone, affirming them, giving them hope.
No doubt, you mastered the feat of walking when someone urged, “Come on. Come on. You can do it.” Maybe now a therapist says to you, “You’re doing great. Keep going.”
Encouragement requires identifying a talent in someone and persuading them to develop it. This takes empathy. It means assuring someone that you are with them. You’ve got their back.
My Encouragers
I recall that when we children looking for something lost, a neighbor woman said to me, “Kathy, you’re always so good at finding things.” I don’t think she really knew that, but it goaded me to search for the item even harder and persevere.
After I played a Chopin prelude, my piano teacher said, “That was beautiful. Ask your parents if they would send you to the Cleveland Institute of Music.” What a vote of confidence! But we decided I wouldn’t go. It was just as well because my teacher never brought it up again.
At the end of the school year, my eighth-grade teacher, Sister John Francis, asked me to write compositions during the summer and send them to her at Xavier University, where she was studying. With her support and encouragement my writing skills were honed.
Years later I was asked to speak at a national convention. At the time I had never addressed a group larger than about 35—my students. During the days I was given to reply, I asked a friend, Sister Melannie, if she thought I could do it. She remarked, “If you can teach, you can talk.” Her words emboldened me. Ever since then I’ve been giving talks, or as she put it, “making money with my mouth.”
The Virtue of Encouragement
Scripture encourages encouragement. (See what I did there?) St. Paul wrote, “Encourage one another and build each other up. (1 Thessalonians 5:11) He lists encouragement as one of the spiritual gifts bestowed on believers. (Romans 12:8) In Hebrews 10:24–25, Paul advised how to be holy: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
To encourage others is to bless them. And in blessing them, we ourselves are blessed.
God is the ideal encourager. He is known as the God of encouragement. In Isaiah 41:10 God says,, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you.”
Today’s World
In the song “Home on the Range,” the range is a pleasant place where “Never is heard a discouraging word.” The world now is quite the opposite. The atmosphere is rife with criticisms and putdowns. Attacking other people instead of building them up is the modus operandi for too many. Success is then squelched. People who encourage others are more needed than ever.
Look how Helen Keller blossomed with Anne Sullivan’s encouragement.
Pythagoras encouraged Plato.
Bruce Lee encouraged several other actors.
A physical education teacher encouraged Rihanna to pursue music.
Some Encouraging Words:
“You’ve got this!”
“I believe in you.”
“Don’t give up.”
“Trust yourself.”
“One step at a time.”
“I’m here for you.”
“You’re stronger (better) than you think.”
Besides speaking words to boost people’s confidence, we can also write notes or send emails that do that.
By the way, indulge in a little self-encouragement occasionally: “I can do this. I am strong. I’ve done this before, etc.”
Goethe noted, “Instruction does much, but encouragement everything.”
For Reflection and Comment
When have you benefited from someone’s encouragement?
How can you encourage someone now?
What Scripture verse gives you confidence and hope?
See what a little encouragement can do:
Here is a hilarious video that clearly demonstrates the power of encouragement. I first saw it on America’s Funniest Videos. Click the link and make sure you have the sound on by clicking “unmute.”
https://9gag.com/gag/an7VLbb?utm_source=copy_link&utm_medium=post_share
Eucharist, Our Sacred Meal
An Amazing Gift
On Holy Thursday we heard the story of how Jesus instituted the Eucharist. And lately the Mass readings have to do with this sacrament. Jesus took some bread and said, “This is my body,” and then he held a cup of wine and claimed, “This is my blood.” Some faith traditions hold that these words were merely symbolic. For some two thousand years, Catholics have taken the words of Jesus at face value. Still, how easily we let our Communions become routine and stale, forgetting what an astounding miracle they are. We might even fail to take advantage of this gift. As St. Augustine wistfully noted, “Christ is the bread, awaiting hunger.”
Because of the Eucharist, Jesus remains with us on earth, we’re able to share in his redeeming sacrifice, and we are united as his mystical body. Beyond that, we are able to actually consume God in the form of bread and wine! At Mass we feast on God. Jesus becomes one with us, divinizing our humanity.
In the words attributed to Saint Teresa of the Andes:
“I eat Jesus. He is my nourishment. I am assimilated by him. What greater happiness is there than this: to hold tightly to our heart the God who is our God! Receive Communion as well and be deeply aware of the One who visits you, infinite love, divine madness; of One who not only became man like ourselves, but who became bread. After you receive Communion, ask Jesus, the God you hold prisoner in your soul, to stay with you throughout the day so that you may love him and give him thanks.”
Prayers to Participate
When the priest raises the paten with the host, we can mentally place ourselves on it too, offering our lives to God the Father.
At the Consecration, when the priest holds up the sacred host, I was taught to say, “My Lord and my God.” These were the words of the apostle Thomas when he acknowledged the true presence of the risen Jesus.
And when the priest holds up the chalice of wine, I was taught to say, “My Jesus, mercy!” For that was the blood that was shed for my sins.
Facts about the Eucharist
Here is a Eucharist IQ Quiz that I use in my workshops on the liturgy. You simply have to tell whether each statement is true or false. The answers are at the end. Don’t peek!
- The Eucharist is the source and summit of Christian life.
- The Mass is our highest form of worship.
- The word Eucharist means “thanksgiving.”
- Jesus gave us the Eucharist at the Last Supper. He told us to do it in remembrance of him. At Mass we remember his death and resurrection.
- At Mass the sacrifice Jesus offered at the Last Supper and on Calvary is re-presented.
- At Mass salvation goes on. Sin is atoned for, and the graces won are poured out on us.
- At the sacrifice of the Mass, Jesus is both the priest and the offering.
- At Mass we offer Jesus to the Father with him.
- At Mass we also offer ourselves to the Father.
- The sacred bread and wine are truly Jesus. This is called the Real Presence.
- Jesus is totally present in both the bread and the wine and in every part of each.
- The change of the bread and wine into Jesus (called transubstantiation) is brought about by the Holy Spirit through the words and actions of the priest.
- By consuming the food and drink that is Jesus, we become more like him.
- Jesus is present as long as the substances remain bread and wine.
- At Communion we are also united with the Mystical Body of Jesus: the Church.
- At the Eucharist we participate in heaven’s liturgy; angels and saints are present.
- The Eucharist is a sacrament of initiation. Only Church members can receive it.
- Bread and wine signify all God’s gifts of creation for which we give thanks.
- Bread and wine recall the Passover when God saved the chosen people from death by the blood of the lamb.
- The altar signifies that the Eucharist is a sacrifice and a meal.
- At Mass we feast at the table of the Word and the table of the Eucharist. It anticipates the heavenly feast.
- When we receive the Eucharist, our sins are forgiven.
- We prepare for Mass by being free from grave sin and by fasting for an hour
- We bow before receiving the Eucharist and respond Amen.
- The Eucharist is a gift of love from the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Hopefully you persevered through all twenty-five statements and you eventually realized that all of them were true. Yes, this is a trick quiz. The Eucharist, though, is no trick. Jesus really meant it when he said, “This is my body,” and “I will be with you always.” Isn’t his love for us outrageous? And aren’t we fortunate that we live in this century when we can receive Communion every day if we wish and not just with special permission as in former times!
The first hymn here is quite lovely. If you have a half hour, you might listen to the entire video.
What do you recall about your First Communion?
Which is the most awesome Mass you have attended?
What do you say to Jesus after receiving him in Communion?
What is your favorite Eucharistic hymn?
Moon Memories and Musings
Exciting News about the Moon
The moon captured the attention of most people lately because of the historic journey to it four astronauts made. Like me, as the Artemis 11 capsule surrounded by flames sped 24,000 mph at 5000 degrees for an ocean landing, you probably held your breath. Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen are our newest heroes.
The astronauts spoke some poignant words when they were safe at home. In case you missed them…
Reid said, “It’s a special thing to be human—and a special thing to be on planet Earth.”
Victor said, “I wanted to thank God in public, and I want to thank God again.”
Christina described a crew and then said, “Planet Earth, you are a crew.”
Jeremy spoke of gratitude, the joy train, and love.
The crew had some firsts: They traveled 250,000 miles from Earth. They saw the dark side of the moon as well as a solar eclipse as the moon passed between them and the sun.
The whole experience of the journey around our closest neighbor in the solar system and its stunning sights lifts our hearts to the Creator!
Our Natural Satellite and Us
The moon has always fascinated people. It represents beauty and calm. A site on YouTube lists 62 best moon songs. For decades a national dream has been to go to the moon. Then finally the Apollo 11 crew landed on it. I remember watching it.
Do you recall the excitement generated by the solar eclipse of April 8, 2024? Wearing special glasses, we had our eyes glued to the sky.
I love to see a full moon, especially a huge orange one on the horizon. The full moon of each month from January to December has a name: Wolf, Snow, Worm, Pink, Pink Flower, Strawberry, Buck, Sturgeon, Harvest, Hunting, Beaver, and Cold.
The moon influences us. Its gravity creates tides and influences migration and mating rituals. Some people think it affects our emotions too. There is moon gazing therapy, but no proof that it works. Luna was the Roman goddess of the moon, the basis of words like lunar and lunatic. The Greek name was Selene, who pulled the moon across the sky in her chariot.
Our Partner in Space in Our Language
“Moonwalk dance” “Moon pie” “Love you to the moon and back.” “I’m over the moon.” “He’s mooning over her.” “Many moons ago” “to moon someone” “Honeymoon.”
Facts about Our Moon
Our solar system has more than 200 moons. Ours is fifth in size.
The moon doesn’t make its own light but reflects sunlight. That is why it is a symbol for Mary, who reflects the light of God.
The lunar surface is pocked with craters made by asteroids and comets. Besides craters, there are about 18 mountain ranges on it.
The cycle of the moon’s phases takes more than 29 days. The 13th full moon can be seen every 2 ½ years and called a blue moon. The next one is in May.
Formerly it was thought that the moon was a chunk of Earth broken off by an asteroid, but the two bodies don’t have the same basic materials.
The dark spots on the moon, some of which we discern as the Man in the Moon and the Japanese see a rabbit, are caused by the impact of comets. The dark spots are called marias, Latin for seas. A thin layer of dust surrounds the moon, kicked up by comets.
The moon’s gravity is about 1/6 of Earth’s. It also has a very thin atmosphere.
In 2018 water ice was discovered in craters on the unlit side. In 2020 water was found on the sunlit side.
The moon spins slowly and follows an elliptical path, so sometimes it appears closer.
For Thought
Just before the 40-minute communications blackout on the far side of the moon, Victor Glover said, “As we continue to unlock the mysteries of the cosmos, I would like to remind you of one of the most important mysteries there on Earth. And that’s love.”
• What is your favorite moon song?
• Where were you for the solar eclipse in 2024?
Here is a rendition of my favorite moon song. The video is overlaid with tidbits of information about how this song came to be. Enjoy!
Wit and Wisdom, a Wise Easter Gift
Wise sayings flood the Internet. Every day I post a cartoon on Facebook. For this holy, happy Easter Week, I am sharing one I posted that is not a picture, but a list of sayings that might make you smile or scratch your head. Humor adds joy to life. Enjoy these:
Still trying to get my head around the fact that ‘Take Out’ can mean food, dating, or murder.
Dear paranoid people who check behind their shower curtains for murderers: If you do find one, what’s your plan?
The older I get, the more I understand why roosters scream to start their day.
Being popular on Facebook is like sitting at the ‘cool table’ in the cafeteria of a mental hospital.
You know you’re over 50 when you have ‘upstairs ibuprofen’ and ‘downstairs ibuprofen.’
How did doctors come to the conclusion that exercise prolongs life, when…the rabbit is always jumping but only lives for around two years, and…the turtle that doesn’t exercise at all lives over 200 years. So, rest, chill, eat, drink, and enjoy life!
I too was once a male trapped in a female body…but then my mother gave birth.
If only vegetables smelled as good as bacon.
When I lost the fingers on my right hand in a freak accident, I asked the doctor if I would still be able to write with it. He said, “Possibly, but I wouldn’t count on it.”
I woke up this morning determined to drink less, eat right, and exercise. But that was four hours ago when I was younger and full of hope.
Anyone who says their wedding was the best day of their life has clearly never had two candy bars fall down at once from a vending machine.
We live in a time where intelligent people are silenced so that stupid people won’t be offended.
The biggest joke on mankind is that computers have begun asking humans to prove they aren’t a robot.
When a kid says “Daddy, I want mommy” that’s the kid version of “I’d like to speak to your supervisor.”
It’s weird being the same age as old people.
Just once, I want a username and password prompt to respond “CLOSE ENOUGH.”
Last night the internet stopped working so I spent a few hours with my family. They seem like good people.
If Adam and Eve were Cajuns they would have eaten the snake instead of the apple and saved us all a lot of trouble.
We celebrated last night with a couple of adult beverages …… Metamucil and Ensure.
You know you are getting old when friends with benefits means knowing someone who can drive at night.
Weight loss goal: To be able to clip my toenails and breathe at the same time.
After watching how some people wore their masks, I understand why contraception fails.
Some of my friends exercise every day. Meanwhile I am watching a show I don’t like because the remote fell on the floor.
For those of you that don’t want Alexa or Siri listening in on your conversation, they are making a male version; it doesn’t listen to anything.
I just got a present labeled, ‘From Mom and Dad,’ and I know darn well that Dad has no idea what’s inside.
Now that Covid has everyone washing their hands correctly…next week…Turn Signals.
The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The realist adjusts his sails.
There’s a fine line between a numerator and a denominator. Only a fraction of people will find this funny.
Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are.
I have many hidden talents. I just wish I could remember where I hid them.
My idea of a Super Bowl is a toilet that cleans itself.
Exercise helps you with decision-making. It’s true. I went for a run this morning and decided I’m never going again.
Which of these sayings do you identify with?
Which one do you like best?
Comedians like late night hosts make a living by making clever, funny statements. Who is your favorite?
Here is a brief overview of the life of one of America’s wittiest authors:
Self-Care and Mental Health: Why It Matters and How to Start
As we approach Easter Sunday, the celebration of new life, I thought it fitting to post a guest blog by Patricia Sarmiento. She offers practical, tried ways to renew our life on earth. I needed this. May you find it helpful too!
Self-Care Defined
Self-care refers to actions people take to support their physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. When practiced consistently, self-care can reduce stress, improve mood, strengthen resilience, and support overall mental health.
Modern Catholic life often pulls attention outward—work, family, parish activities, social justice projects, notifications, deadlines. Without deliberate recovery time, stress accumulates. Chronic stress is associated with anxiety, burnout, irritability, sleep problems, and difficulty concentrating. Self-care interrupts that cycle.
A Quick Overview
- Self-care lowers stress and helps regulate emotions.
- Consistent routines (sleep, movement, connection) improve mental stability.
- Small daily habits are more effective than occasional “big resets.”
- Preventive care supports long-term resilience, not just short-term relief.
Self-care is not indulgence. It is maintenance for your nervous system.
Why Self-Care Supports Mental Health
1. It Regulates Stress Physiology
When you’re stressed, your body activates the sympathetic nervous system—your fight-or-flight response. Gentle, restorative activities (like deep breathing, stretching, or time in nature) activate the parasympathetic system, which calms the body. Over time, this improves emotional balance and reduces reactivity.
2. It Builds Emotional Awareness
Practices such as journaling, therapy, or quiet reflection increase emotional literacy—the ability to recognize and name what you’re feeling. Research in psychology consistently shows that labeling emotions reduces their intensity and improves regulation.
3. It Strengthens Resilience
Resilience is not about avoiding hardship. It’s about recovering effectively. Regular sleep, supportive relationships, and restorative habits increase your capacity to handle stressors.
4. It Improves Mood Through Behavior
Behavioral activation—a therapy principle used in treating depression—shows that purposeful activity can improve mood. Movement, sunlight exposure, creative work, or social connection can gradually elevate emotional state.
What Self-Care Can Look Like
Self-care is personal. There is no universal checklist. However, common categories include:
- Physical care: Sleep, balanced nutrition, movement, hydration
- Emotional care: Therapy, journaling, setting boundaries
- Social care: Meaningful conversations, supportive communities
- Mental care: Reading, learning, limiting media overload
- Spiritual care: Meditation, prayer, time in nature
You do not need to do all of these. Start small.
A Practical Self-Care Reset Checklist
If you feel overwhelmed, try this short reset routine:
- Drink a glass of water.
- Step outside or sit near a window for five minutes.
- Take 10 slow, controlled breaths.
- Write down one worry and one actionable next step.
- Reach out to one supportive person (texting counts).
This five-step reset can reduce acute stress and improve clarity in under 15 minutes.
Stress Reduction Modalities to Consider
There are many evidence-informed ways to lower stress safely. Four alternatives people explore include:
- Mindfulness meditation
- Gentle yoga or breathwork
- Rhodiola rosea
- THCa
Mindfulness and yoga help regulate stress hormones and improve emotional awareness. Rhodiola rosea, an herbal adaptogen, has been studied for fatigue and stress support. Some individuals also explore cannabinoids such as THCa; if researching this option, you may want to consider this resource to better understand available forms and sourcing. As with any supplement, consult a qualified healthcare professional before use.
Mental Health Gains Over Time
Self-care does not always create instant transformation. Instead, it works cumulatively.
| Self-Care Practice | Short-Term Effect | Long-Term Mental Health Benefit |
| Regular sleep schedule | Improved focus next day | Lower anxiety and mood stability |
| Exercise (3–4x weekly) | Mood lift after session | Reduced risk of depression |
| Social connection | Immediate emotional support | Increased resilience |
| Daily journaling | Emotional clarity | Better stress processing |
Consistency is the mechanism.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is self-care the same as therapy?
No. Therapy is a structured mental health intervention led by a licensed professional. Self-care complements therapy but does not replace it.
What if I don’t have time?
Self-care does not require hours. Five to fifteen minutes daily can meaningfully affect stress levels.
Can self-care help with anxiety or depression?
It can support symptom management, especially when combined with professional care. However, moderate to severe symptoms should be evaluated by a healthcare provider.
How do I know what works for me?
Track how you feel before and after activities for two weeks. Patterns will emerge.
A Helpful Mental Health Resource
If you’re looking for structured, credible mental health information, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) provides free, research-based guides on stress, anxiety, depression, and coping strategies. This resource offers educational materials without replacing personalized medical care.
The Problem → Solution → Result Pattern
Problem: Chronic stress and emotional overload weaken mental clarity and resilience.
Solution: Consistent, structured self-care practices tailored to your lifestyle.
Result: Improved emotional regulation, stronger coping capacity, and more stable mental health.
Conclusion
Self-care supports mental health by regulating stress, strengthening resilience, and improving emotional awareness. Small, consistent actions matter more than dramatic changes. Whether you begin with better sleep, short daily resets, or mindful movement, progress builds gradually. Your mental health benefits from steady maintenance, not perfection.
• What have you found helpful in dealing with stress?
Here is one of the many videos that help you relax and soothe you into sleep.
