Encouragement is a great thing.
I’ve had a few experiences of encouragement lately.
A friend and colleague asked me to take some photos of him as promo pieces for his burgeoning music career.
Kind words were offered in response to some photos with text I offered for a Visio Divina project.
A photographer/Instagramer from the UK said very kind things about me and my work on his regular Friday video.
Not surprisingly, I can be my harshest critic and routinely think I’m a hack and should just stop. Too often I find it easy to dismiss people’s compliments because they are just family or they are just trying to be nice. It’s quite the act of dismissal not to believe the words they say are true.
Occasionally, there are cracks in my armor and I can actually receive and celebrate these encouraging words. And sometimes I believe them.
I added the label “Photographer” to my Instagram account today. Of course, I feel like an fraud doing that, but perhaps by seeing that word there I will learn to accept that label.
Never underestimate the value of a few words of encouragement.