Joyce Ann Isidro
A lot of us underestimate our own power.
But did you know that you’re more powerful than you think?
Even the simplest words and smallest acts of kindness can change someone’s day for the better, regardless of how small that change is.
It only takes a few kind words to make someone feel better—and these 11 little phrases can instantly brighten someone’s day.
If you want to learn how you can use them to make someone’s day better, read more below.
1) “I’m proud of you.”
Every day, life throws a bunch of challenges at us, and every day, we try our best to survive them.
We may think we’re weak, that our ability to simply get through the day is no achievement, but it is.
So when you tell someone you’re proud of them, you’re reminding them that even the smallest, simplest tasks they finish is an accomplishment, even if they don’t think so.
Which is why it’s so important to tell other people, especially your loved ones, that you’re proud of them every chance that you get.
It’s easily one of the best things you could possibly hear, especially if you’re having a bad day.
Similarly, telling someone you believe in them can instantly brighten their day.
2) “I believe in you”
A lot of us doubt ourselves too much. I know I do.
Even the most capable person you know can often doubt themselves. They will have the biggest achievements and they will still think they’re an imposter who doesn’t deserve it.
So when we tell other people that we believe in them, even when they don’t believe in themselves, it makes their whole day better.
It boosts their confidence and gives them the motivation they need to keep chasing after their dreams.
Because we often forget that we’re capable, it’s incredibly important that we’re reminded that someone believes in us, even if we don’t believe in ourselves.
And when we forget, we simply need to be reminded that in our smallest actions and achievements, there’s someone out there that we inspire.
3) “You inspire me.”
Do you often find yourself worrying about what other people think of you?
That they might be judging you and talking bad about your character, and not knowing what they say scares you?
Well, here’s the thing: you also don’t know that someone out there is inspired by your actions, even if they don’t tell you.
They will watch you achieve your dreams, and they will silently admire you.
But every once in a while, we will be told that we inspire someone.
And if someone inspires you, don’t hesitate to tell them. I’m certain they need to hear it, and it will never be a bad thing to tell someone they inspire you.
It will instantly brighten their day to know that the things they do are not in vain, because they inspire people like you.
4) “You know me so well.”
As people, we like to be seen and heard. We like to be validated, recognized, and appreciated for our actions.
So when you tell a friend that they know you so well, it’s a validation for them to know that they’re loving you right.
When a friend tells me I know them so well, it makes me feel giddy. I think, “you’re damn right, I do! And I’m going to prove it every time.”
It might sound cocky, but that’s how I feel—because I like knowing that I know my friends like the back of my hand.
So the next time your friend does something that you really appreciate, such as giving you something you need without you telling them, tell them how grateful you are that they know you so well.
5) “I’m so grateful to have you in my life.”
Life is hard. It’s even harder when we’re on our own.
That’s why we need friends to love, a family to rely on, and maybe even a significant other that’s always got our back.
And when we’re with them, it’s important that we take the opportunity to tell them how grateful we are to have them in our lives.
It will instantly brighten their day, for sure, because often, we find ourselves caught up in thinking we’re nothing but a burden to the people in our lives.
We need to be reminded that our loved ones are grateful that we exist, because it validates our need to be loved and appreciated just for our mere existence.
And when we forget, it can truly weigh us down—so we need to hear that we’re stronger than we think we are.
6) “You’re stronger than you think.”
All of us have our own demons to battle with every single day.
And when it gets too much, it sometimes feels like the best thing to do is give up.
So when you tell someone “you’re stronger than you think,” it instantly brightens their day—and more than that, it encourages them to keep going. To keep holding on, even when they’re tired.
Because when someone tells you you’re stronger than you think, they’re telling you something you don’t see in yourself.
They’re helping you realize that battling with the same demons over and over again each day is a big accomplishment that you should be proud of—that you’re strong for surviving every day.
And surviving every day means you’re also making progress each day, even when you don’t feel like you are.
7) “You’re making progress, even if it doesn’t feel like it.”
We usually see our friends’ progress more than they do. It’s in the little things:
Maybe they started singing in the shower again after months of being down in the dumps and being unusually quiet.
Maybe they started greeting you a good morning each day because they’re finally able to get out of bed early in the morning.
And when we tell them these changes that they don’t notice, that’s when they will only realize that they’re making progress that they don’t see—and it will instantly brighten their day to know that there’s fruits to their efforts.
Because as people, we think change is only perceptible if it’s a big, significant one.
But change doesn’t have to be big and significant to count as progress, and we need to remember that.
8) “You’re a lot more talented than you give yourself credit for.”
So many people have imposter syndrome—it’s the belief that you don’t deserve the achievements you get.
That you somehow faked your way to the top, and you don’t actually belong there.
That other people are more capable than you, and you somehow just had the privilege to get what you have.
But here’s the thing—untalented people don’t actually have imposter syndrome. In fact, it’s them who usually have humongous, unearned confidence.
So tell someone they’re more talented than they give themself credit for.
It helps them realize that they deserve everything they worked for, and that they’re not imposters for grinding and working hard each day to get to the top.
And whose day wouldn’t be brightened when they’re reminded that they deserve all their achievements?
9) “You’re one of a kind, and that’s what makes you special.”
Every one of us has something that makes us special. We just don’t see it in ourselves.
It’s like a painting you’ve been working on for weeks on end, or a piece of writing that you’ve gotten caught up on in the last month or two.
You’ve been working and seeing it too much to see the beauty in it, much like you do with yourself.
You’ve been too caught up in self-criticism and self-judgment that you don’t see your own beauty.
So when you tell someone they’re one of a kind, they will stop being so engrossed in all the little details and start seeing the whole picture—that every single one of their flaws paint a picture of a beautiful person that is themself.
10) “You make a difference in the world.”
All of us have a bit of “I want to change the world” in us (though hopefully we all want to change the world for the better).
And it’s so affirming to hear that we make a difference in the world—so when you get the chance to tell someone this, take it.
When you see someone’s working hard to further their advocacy, tell them they’re making a difference. That without them, the world will be worse off.
It will instantly brighten their day to know that their hard work is not in vain, that there are results to their efforts.
Because the exhaustion subsides a little when you’re told you make a difference in the world, because it means your efforts aren’t all for naught.
11) “I love you as you are.”
Often, we feel the need to change to be loved.
We don’t feel like our true selves are worth loving—that we’re disgusting and unloveable, so we attempt to change who we are to get the love we need.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
That’s why we need to tell others, especially our loved ones, that we love them as they are.
It won’t only brighten their day—it will also encourage them to keep being themselves, that they are loveable just as they are, and that they don’t need to change to be worthy of love.
And we all need to hear that we’re loved as we are, because everyone deserves to be loved in all their flaws and imperfections.
