Above all, encouragement is grounded in unconditional love. Unless a person feels truly loved for who they are and solely because they exist as a unique and valued creation of God, such a person is not, at the core of his being, going to feel encouraged. Such love must be received regardless of the person’s actions, traits, or accomplishments. It must not be love that is granted for manipulative purposes. It must be love that is both perceived and actively received without any strings or conditions