It is said that one of the deepest principles in humans is the craving to be appreciated. I would add to that...to be recognized as well.
To practice this in your life, your actions need to be sincere and genuine. If they aren’t, it will simply come across as flattery, which is the excessive and insincere praise, given especially to further one's own interests.
Appreciation is genuine. You can use it anywhere. The coffee shop, in the office, or at home. Literally anywhere. Here are a few examples of easy ways you can start incorporating this act into your life:
You stop to grab a coffee and tell the barista that the coffee she made is going to help you have an awesome day.
You tell your co-worker that he/she really helps make your job fun.
You tell your husband that you appreciate him taking out the trash.
You tell your friend that you are grateful to have her in your life.
These are all pretty simple, right? That’s exactly the point. Showing appreciation can be for literally anything that positively impacts your life.
On the flip side, the effect it has on other people can be massive!
Have you ever had someone tell you that they appreciate you? If you have, you’ll probably remember that it brought you some joy and happiness for at least a good part of the day.
So, as we go into this next week, think about how you’re appreciating the people in your life (both personally and professionally). If you feel like you could do a better job at it, set a goal to express appreciation for someone else at least a handful of times in the upcoming week.
Life is good,
Jeff
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