Encouraging is a synonym of Favorable. Favorable is similar to Following. Following is the opposite of Previous. Previous is the opposite of Later. 
Loop is related to Circuit. Link is a type of Circuit. Link is related to Join. Join is related to Combination. 
Encouraging <--Synonym--> Favorable <--SimilarTo--> Following <--Antonym--> Previous <--Antonym--> Later 
Loop <--RelatedTo--> Circuit <--IsA-- Link <--RelatedTo--> Join <--RelatedTo--> Combination 