Appreciation is a big part of who we are and how we live
When I started to write about Appreciation, I realised its importance. Appreciation can provide a foundation for living and serving others, family, friends and the community. Luckily, my husband brings me a hot lemon drink every morning. I am so appreciative of that, and it’s one of the ways he shows he cares about me.
A dictionary meaning is -
recognition and enjoyment of the good qualities of someone or something.
Below are some words that are similar in meaning to Appreciation.
valuing
respecting
prizing
cherishing
treasuring
Which word is your favourite?
Imagine how we would feel if we demonstrated those words to ourselves and others daily. Pretty dam fantastic!!!
Appreciation can cover three areas:
With ourselves
With others – family and friends and
Our Community
Appreciation differs from gratitude; it's more about respecting oneself and others. When we appreciate someone, we recognise the value and meaning of their action. Gratitude is more about the feeling of being thankful. We can appreciate the little things through a simple thank you, a smile, or a hug; these can profoundly lift people's self-esteem. Don’t you feel great when this happens to you?
Appreciation of ourselves
Let's begin with appreciating ourselves because if we don't value ourselves, it's hard for others to treat us in the same manner. Also, our tank will quickly run dry if we mainly appreciate others and don't give to ourselves. Some examples of valuing ourselves include:
making our bed every morning
appreciating the skills and talents we bring to the world
saying well done to yourself at the end of a busy day
having a facial (and telling yourself how gorgeous you look afterwards)
reading a wonderful book
listening to music you love
eating healthy food
praising ourselves when a big project is completed
All of these, of course, is about self-care. So what are the ways you could cherish yourself?
When we Appreciate ourselves, it is much easier to appreciate others.
Some of us like to receive Appreciation from others. But, generally, if it's not coming to us, it's not necessarily your fault. It might be that someone is simply going through something, a friend who can barely cope with themselves, let alone anyone else.
Appreciation of others
Appreciation for others can be simple. For example, a thank you to someone in the supermarket who waits for you to pass in a busy aisle, a compliment to a friend or giving flowers to someone from your garden.
Love languages are a great way to convey Appreciation. The five love languages are:
Words of affirmation
Quality time
Physical touch
Acts of service
Receiving gifts
Which one do you think is your love language? Do you know your friends or partners' love language? We can have more than one love language, but usually, we have a dominant one.
It can take a lot of courage to speak up and appreciate someone. For instance, say to your other half, "When you send me a text message with a little smile and a heart, you have no idea how much that fills my tank up." They will love that, especially if their love language is words.
Appreciation in the community
When we value what someone does in the community, it's a public appreciation. Your neighbours, a café you visit, or a business you interact with are all part of your community. It could also be appreciating nature, the light on the water or the lush bush.
It's thanking people who do amazing things, such as nurses, teachers or a waitress in a restaurant who gives excellent service.
These days it's common to be asked to give a review when you have used a service or bought something online. I don't know about you, but I can get annoyed when I buy something and the business wants a review from me. It can feel like a burden, but in fact, it's giving a public statement of Appreciation. And when we shift our mindset to that perspective, we are in a better place to provide feedback.
So I encourage you to value and cherish yourself and others A LOT!
Make many people's day by demonstrating Appreciation to them AND Appreciating yourself.
Warmly
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