Our affirming words can literally change the trajectory of someone’s life.  

At our latest Enrichment series event Jody Noland spoke to us about the importance and power of sincere written affirmation.
 

As an author, speaker, and coach, Jody brings an infectious passion for writing words of encouragement. Her greatest joy comes from helping others leave nothing unsaid to the important people in their lives. 

Jody recounted several stories from her own life where written words of affirmation encouraged others, helped them through grieving a loved one, left a lasting memory, or motivated others towards life change. 

Through these experiences, Jody has become a self-proclaimed “letter evangelist” and has spent her time and resources to develop a workbook with a step-by-step approach to writing a meaningful letter. Jody also speaks and leads Leave Nothing Unsaid workshops across the country.

We underestimate the positive impact that our words can have in the lives of people we care about, both professionally or personally. 

Jody told us a story about serotinous pinecones, which only open and release their seeds under extreme heat like a forest fire. Similarly, there are people we have in our world that have been through the equivalent of a forest fire. They’ve been through hardships and no longer have hope. 

The gift we can be to each other by being intentionally affirming is that we can remind others about the qualities we love in them and help them refocus on special gifts and abilities they may have forgotten about themselves.

Jody taught us that there is a difference between affirming and just appreciating. Appreciating often focuses on what someone has done for us. Affirming is like mining for gold. We can tell people: these are the things in you that make you so special. These are the things I truly value in you.

Most of us are more well-versed in what’s wrong with us than what's right. When you’re inside the jar, you can't see the label. We have the opportunity to tell people these are the things I see in you that are so unique and so special.
 

Memories fade but ink lasts. Text messages are great, but writing affirming words down in a permanent way gives people something to be read and re-read. 

Jody’s final encouragement to us was to write these affirming words now. Life is fragile and the unexpected can happen at any moment. We often wait until funerals to express how we really feel about people, and then it's too late.

Don’t wait. Don’t put it off. Eulogize the living. 

Affirmation truly can change lives and relationships. Not only can you change the trajectory of a life, but your affirming words can be healing and life-giving. Think on a daily basis about who in your life you can affirm. 

Following this Enrichment Series event, Jody Noland hosted a Leave Nothing Unsaid workshop at Trilith on Thursday, July 27th. Jody taught us her powerful, step-by-step process to write affirming letters to those who matter most. 

For future workshops and events, check out the calendar of Trilith Foundation events here.