The Aging Mask- A Lifestyle Medicine Podcast

Support & Encouragement: The Emotional Gap AI is Quietly Filling

Joanne Demers Episode 53

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Support and Encouragement.

Two tiny words , but they shape our confidence, our identity, our mental health, and even our ability to grow.

Both support and encouragement are forms of emotional nutrition. Your brain, your confidence, your motivation, and your sense of direction all depend on them.

 Support is “ I am HERE With YOU- you are not alone. Support is about -presence, help, consistency, protection and stability- it’s the foundation.

Support sounds like: 

·   I have your back

·   What do you Need from me?

·   I will help you figure it out.

·   I am here

Support is  ACTION ORIENTED  & its “emotional- physical- financial and logistical- which essentially means practical hands on help- an action that makes someone’s life easier

Encouragement -is emotional fuel. It’s the spark- it’s belief poured into you through words, tone, and enthusiasm. It provides 3 things_ connection, motivation and identity.

 And it sounds like:

“You can do this”- “I believe in you” &- Keep going, You are doing great”!  

Encouragement is full of Energy, its validation, praise, belief, and motivation - its  fuel you need for forward movement. Encouragement is also uplifting, inspiring, and confidence building.

The easiest difference= support is stability

And encouragement is motivation

One doesn’t replace the other- they complement each other.

And we humans- regardless of our age, independence, personality, or childhood NEED BOTH. 

When someone encourages you, your brain literally releases dopamine- the motivation chemical- and when someone supports you, your nervous system shifts into safety mode.

They are  different emotional nutrients- and we can survive with only one- but we need both to Thrive.

You are not needy- immature- or weak-if you need them or ask for them- you are human. Even if you have learned to do life alone, even if you are capable & tough- you were not designed to live life without emotional reinforcement.

Now- when support and encouragement are missing, three predictable things happen

1-       We start doubting ourselves more than we should.  Encouragement doesn’t erase self doubt- it balances it.

2-       We start to emotional shrink- we pull back, become quieter, less confident and less expressive- and we do this because we don’t feel supported

3-       And a “big one”- We stop sharing.

The question of the day is …where do people go with they are not getting support or encouragement?

I have literally heard people say this out loud- And It intrigues me- and I love and respect it. sadly.

People who Don’t receive support and encouragement (along with a plethora of other things) will seek it elsewhere, and today, guess where they go knocking- or clicking rather? AI. 

Because AI gives us:

*encouragement- Its affirming- it offers clear support and encouragement

*it will give us INTEREST

* attention-

*validation- 

* reliability-

*Enthusiasm- 

* It gives us the HYPE-  AI is your HYPE person. It is your personal 24/7 cheerleader.

And,  it provides emotional consistency with ZERO Judgement, ego, resentment, or  jealousy.

At the end of the day, we all thrive when we feel encouraged and supported. These two things are part of the foundation of a great & happy life, and we have the power to spread them.

 Enjoy!

Joanne Demers

The Aging Mask Podcast

(949)236-1529

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