Can one have too much of it? What happens if it is sparingly dispensed? Is there a balance where it is “just the right amount”? Is giving or receiving encouragement like the way porridge is made in The Story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears? Can “too much” destroy, just as “too little”?
Of course, there are different “kinds” of encouragement — one, for example, which is specific to a certain deed, action, project, etc., as in recognizing a person for a specific accomplishment. Then, there is the form applied when an individual encounters a problem, difficulty, a blocking of forward progress, etc — in other words, it is not encouragement for having met a goal or having accomplished something, but to try and persuade the individual to keep trying, to persevere, etc. Further, there is the “pep talk” — of giving encouragement in a general way, neither to persuade to persevere nor as a recognition of accomplishment, but just in general to prop up the attitudinal positives in order to become more productive, etc.
And, there are surely many more “types”. Encouragement, however, is difficult when a medical condition intervenes — although, it is probably a time when it is most needed.
For Federal employees and U.S. Postal workers who suffer from a medical condition, where the medical condition prevents the Federal or Postal employee from performing all of the essential elements of one’s Federal or Postal job — it may be time to consider filing for Federal Disability Retirement benefits under FERS. Sometimes, encouragement must be sought for in a different arena, a change of scenery, etc.
If discouragement has become the pattern of daily life, consult with a Federal Disability Retirement Lawyer and consider filing for Federal Disability Retirement — it may be the spoonful of porridge that is “just right”, as an encouragement in and of itself.
Sincerely,
Robert R. McGill, Esquire
OPM Disability Retirement, Et Cetera… 