Encourage Yourself

It is amazing that self-regulation is the first functional emotional capacity humans typically develop in the first months of life. Self-regulation can be described as the ability to calm oneself in strange situations. I like how the ICDL website beautifully describes and links the baby’s first experience and self-regulation:

After nine months in darkness, a baby is born. Suddenly he is plunged into a world of light and sound, movement and touch, taste and smell. A sensory extravaganza! All this information is exciting and stimulating to the baby, but at the same time he has to learn not to be overwhelmed. His very first challenge is to take in this sensory panorama while regulating his response and remaining calm.

Capacity 1: Self Regulation and Interest in the World

As soon as a baby enters this world, he or she must learn to not be overwhelmed and stay calm in a new environment. If a human does not learn to self regulate and stay calm early in life, it may cause a lot of social and developmental issues throughout the lifespan. Such person may become difficult to console, overly dependent on others to stay calm and regulated or the individual may live in a constant state of anxiety, panic and other states of dysregulation. One of the significant roles of parents, particularly mothers is to help newborns learn to self-regulate. In doing so, one becomes a co-regulator. Read more about self-regulation and co-regulation here.

I am glad there are ways we can help babies learn how to self-regulate and stay calm. Please read more about it here.

And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God. 1 Samuel 30:6

I love 1 Samuel 30:6 scripture. I encourage you to read the entire chapter. David learned to encourage himself in the face of adversity just like babies learn to self regulate in a strange world. It was a strange situation. Those who fought with David were about to turn against him. Those he could die for were speaking of taking his life. Sometimes love is not reciprocated the way we expect

Many times, we find ourselves in situations where we feel misunderstood, mistreated, and misrepresented. We must learn to encourage ourselves and keep moving forward. Never give up on the dreams God has given you.

It is important to note that David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. In the face of impossible situations, when our life is at stake, and hell break loose, we can find strength in God alone. Our self motivation, self affirmation, self blahs blahs have limits. Children of God must look to God, the best co-regulator, our source, our life, the one who made us and knows us deeper than we know ourselves.

In this season and beyond, encourage yourself in the Lord your God. You can do so by meditating on God’s word, worshiping, and doing everything that shifts your attention to the greatness of God.

Whenever I feel discouraged, Psalm 43:5 always come to mind. It says “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” I tell my soul to hope in the one who created her and I set my affection on God by praising him. I testify that it works every time. Try it.

How do you encourage yourself?

Stay blessed and be encouraged!

Thinking about an encouraging book for mother’s day? Gift this highly encouraging and powerful book to any woman in your life!