Appreciation is the Key

I spent the last week in sunny Florida with my family and what a lovely time we had. Not only are we a hoot and a holler and know how to have a good time, but I reached a whole new level of appreciation this week – in more ways than one.

My sister and I, who are both single, made it our intention to find out what happy people appreciated in their spouses. She had noticed people complaining about their spouses to her a little too often, so we cooked up this idea to attract the opposite. It was enlightening as well as fun.

Several women were shocked by our question, “What do you appreciate most about your husband?” One woman, married for 50 years, said no one had ever asked her that. Another couldn’t wait to answer, “He has more integrity than anyone I’ve ever known. I admire him.” Another at a party had just been complaining about hers when I asked the question. Her whole demeanor changed (after the confusion wore off) as she beamingly described “The way he talks on the phone while making a deal. He’s just so intelligent and creative.”

My absolute favorite was the clerk at the health spa. Married for 22 years, she said, “He’s a good husband and father and he’s hot!” We were all laughing as my sister and I walked out the door and she stopped us with this: “You know, I figured it out several years ago - I just focus on what I like about him and what I don’t like, I ignore.” Interesting….

So appreciation is the way to get more of what you, well, appreciate. Following the Law of Attraction, which states that “like attracts like,” when you spend time appreciating what you like about your life, you get more of it. (Oh yeah, and the opposite is true too – complaining will bring more of whatever you complain about!)

As Abraham-Hicks puts it:

If all you did was just look for things to appreciate you would live a joyous, spectacular life. If there was nothing else that you ever came to understand other than just look for things to appreciate, it's the only tool you would ever need to predominantly hook you up with who you really are. That's all you'd need.

So here’s a few tips to get you going:

? Keep a “Gratitude Journal” Write out 5 things per day that you are grateful for.
• Ask other people some uplifting questions to get into some uplifting conversations. Some suggestions: Who do you admire most? What’s your finest quality? What’s your favorite thing to do with your children?
• Make a list of all the people you interact with in a day and next to their names write one thing you can appreciate about them

This is such a key to happiness that you simply must try it. YOU will be the one to reap the rewards.