The Importance of Appreciation In Your Life

In your circle of friends, or amongst co-workers, or family members, or even from yourself, do you hear more complaining, blaming, criticizing and judging? Or, do you hear the appreciation for things and others in life?

Are you the type of person spreading thanks, cheer and good will, or are you contributing to your own or other people’s doom and gloom?

You can still appreciate life through all its ups and downs and twists and turns. Do you believe it? Are you able to do this?

All you need to do is take a look around you. Notice the beauty in others and all that surrounds you right where you are in this very moment. Try it.

Whether you are having a good day or and an off day, a great week or a terrible one, the importance of gratitude can lift your spirits and shift your mood, and, sometimes even those around you.

Let’s say you are going through a tough phase in your life right now – physically, emotionally, or in a relationship. Perhaps things aren’t going well financially or at work for you or with someone you know, or you may have heard or personally experienced some unsettling news. Appreciating the smallest of things can realign your vibrational frequency from separation to one of connection again.

Whether you are down in the dumps or sitting on top of the world, if you aren’t being thankful perhaps it’s time you start. You have nothing lose and much to be gained.

Right now, no matter where you are in your current surroundings or in your life, you can appreciate something or someone. Even if it’s only one thing today, that’s okay. What’s important is that you are appreciating yourself and something or someone every day.

See if you can hold your attention on what you are thankful for; really focus on it. Start with 15 seconds, then increase it to 30, and then a minute. Really feel it in your body. What are you aware of when you do? Notice how your energy and mood shift as you do so.

Alan Cohen said, “Appreciation is the highest form of prayer, for it acknowledges the presence of good wherever you shine the light of your thankful thoughts”.

You can shine the light of your thankful thoughts towards anyone or anything, and at any time you choose.

What and whom do you appreciate in your life right now?

You can be thankful you woke this morning.
You can appreciate your work and that you are able to work.
You can be grateful for your home, family and friends.
You can give thanks for your life just the way it is.
You can be grateful for your freedom.
You can value yourself and others.
You can welcome the unexpected and the lessons you will learn.
You can appreciate nature and all its splendor with each passing day and season.
You can let others know how thankful you are that they are in your life.
You can give thanks for being you.
You can appreciate your body and all that it allows you to do.
You can be thankful for all or as many of the 5 senses that you have.
You can value the vast diversities in this wonderful universe.
You can be grateful you are breathing at this very minute.
You can be thankful for the “things” in your life like computers, phones, clothes, buildings, planes, cars, etc.
You can be grateful for the food that nourishes your body.
You can give thanks for what inspires you to be the best you can be.
You can value your life and others each and every day.
There is so much you can appreciate right where you are in this exact moment!

The most important thing is to make time each and every day to appreciate what and whom is in your life.

When things aren’t going well for you or for someone you know, you might find yourself not wanting to be thankful or wondering how or why you should be at this time.

Acknowledge the feeling(s) and then remind yourself that you do have a choice of remaining in this mindset if you so choose. Or if you want, you can elevate and often alleviate these emotions by appreciating something or someome.

Go ahead, give it try. What do you have to lose?

Immerse yourself in gratitude each and every day and watch the miracles unfold around you as you do.

The Insight Technique assists you in seeing the importance of appreciation in your life, and how it can shift your stress to one of ease.