Expressions of Appreciation
“Feeling grateful or
appreciative of someone or something in your life actually attracts more of
the things that you appreciate and value into your life.”
– Dr. Christiane Northrup
Have you ever felt under-appreciated? It is unfortunately a common
condition in our culture. But, we can do something to combat its ubiquity.
Like so many negative influences in our lives, we can turn this around and
reverse its influence by doing the exact opposite. Actions may speak louder
than words, but some words can have an unforgettable impact. Appreciating
the contributions of others and making that appreciation known to them,
will not only inspire them, but it will also add remarkable value to your
own life.
Expressing appreciation to others is such a simple act that it is
frequently overlooked. The opportunity is ignored, or we let it pass on by
without saying anything, simply because it might expose our inner self to
others. We ignore the potential to connect with someone else in this way
because it is easy to do. We take the easy path instead of the better one.
Especially in a job situation, expressed appreciation can make a tremendous
difference in job satisfaction and employee productivity. Expressions of
gratitude for a job task that was particularly well done shows the
recipient that she has made a positive difference. She has contributed
something of value to the business. This can have a marked impact on even
the least productive employees, as they start to see the importance of
their place in the scheme of things.
Some people seem to have a hard time even saying thank you. For them,
expressing further appreciation may take a little more effort, but for most
of us it is a fairly easy habit to develop. Make no mistake, it really is
simply a habit to be kind enough to say thank you, and tell someone why you
appreciate their contribution. Good habits like this are fortunately just
as easy to develop as the bad ones.
To develop this altruistic habit, simply adjust your thinking to include at
least three expressions of gratitude every day. Set this as a goal as you
get out of bed. Search your morning for something to be grateful for and
someone to thank for it.
I appreciate that you make breakfast for me every day. Thank you for your
smile, it inspires me. I love the fact that you are so energetic so early
in the day. I wish I didn't have to go to work so I could spend the whole
day with you.
Develop the habit. It's easy. American philosopher and psychologist William
James said, “The deepest craving of human nature is the need to be
appreciated.” Fulfilling that craving is not a difficult task, but to
develop the habit of doing so may take an adjustment of attitude. We need
to stop thinking of gratitude as an incidental byproduct of life and start
thinking of it as a worldview. It will condition our responses to be more
in line with the importance of this deep craving that all of us share.
All too easy to forget, these expressions of gratitude are very simple ways
to get the most out of life by making others, as well as ourselves, feel
better about our daily routines.
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