The word “appreciation” means “being grateful for something or someone” or “recognizing the full worth of something or someone”. Many people, however, say “thank you, I appreciate it”…(whatever the “it” may represent) without feeling the words. Finding the emotion of appreciation inside is really not that hard. All we have to do is acknowledge the obvious: that the sun comes up every morning, that we have a roof over our heads, that we have food to eat and clothes to wear…amenities that many other people do not have. Despite the natural catastrophes and man’s greed to have more (hence wars and constant fighting), our planet is still spinning and nature still provides. Isn’t that amazing? Isn’t that something to appreciate and celebrate?
Making the decision to reach for the emotion of appreciation as often as we can is easy. In fact, this decision to appreciate anything and anyone we see can be the easiest and most productive thing we ever do. We can start by acknowledging that there is value in who we are, and that there is a reason that we exist on this planet. For this to happen, we need to learn to allow ourselves to be who we are. Also, we can acknowledge what is precious and special in others. For this to happen, choosing to focus on what makes another person “beautiful” and not on what is wrong in them is of great importance.
Appreciation is the key to discovering the fullness of who we are. It is a powerful emotion within and is no different from love in its purest form. Once appreciation is shared, it becomes even stronger as it leads to constant evolution and expansion of ourselves, of others and of our planet.