If you took one tenth of the energy you invest in criticism and converted it to gratitude, one’s life would improve a hundredfold. Alan Cohen
When we express our gratitude and count our blessings, it comes back to us multiplied because that is where our focus is. There is an art to appreciation that actually can become a spiritual practice. It can also transform a person who is prone to complaining, condemning and criticizing into a higher vibration when they begin to have an attitude of gratitude.
When was the last time you sat down and wrote a letter expressing appreciation to a special friend, family member, spouse, co-worker, your boss, or a favorite teacher? If you haven’t done this recently, do it now! You could also call them on the phone and ask how they are doing and give them your undivided attention. Let them know how much they mean to you and how grateful you are to have them in your life. Love is a verb that needs to be expressed often. It’s the law of attraction in action.
Gratitude and self-love are important elements to nurture so take time to appreciate you too! When was the last time you bought yourself flowers? Or, treated your self to something special…just because! Let appreciation reverberate throughout your day and also be a good receiver of compliments when others express gratitude to you.
Recently, I had an unfortunate experience with the Best Buy store in Chandler after spending $1,000 that made me realize I will never shop there again. It was over an item that only cost $29.99, but it wasn’t about the money. It was the lack of feeling valued as a customer over a software product they promoted and installed, which I learned within days had a poor rating by PC World Computer Magazine. The store manager refused a refund. They not only lost any future business, they lost good will. You simply can’t put a price tag on customer service and caring.
A couple days later while shopping at Staples, the assistant manager was so outstanding I asked her for the CEO’s phone number and made a personal call commending them on having such an exceptional employee. They also have a poster on an easel in the store entrance with the manager’s picture asking if you had a satisfactory shopping experience, and if not, to ask for that manager by name. Now, that definitely reflects they care and want satisfied customers! So, where do you think I am going to shop full time now? Naturally, it will be at Staples and other similar stores where they value their customers and stand behind their products. What a contrast that is in how corporations do business and how it filters down through to the employees.
When I was buying my new Maxima, the sales manager said, “What will it take to earn your business?” He obviously did not take Nissan clients for granted. A great sweetener in daily life is feeling appreciated.
Sarah Breathnach expressed it beautifully:
Both abundance and lack exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend… when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present — love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature and personal pursuits that bring us pleasure — the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience Heaven on earth.
Shine on in love, joy and gratitude! 
Sharon A. Warren, M.A. © All rights reserved 2007
1 Comment on The Art of Appreciation
September 7, 2007
I agree with everything Sharon wrote about in “The Art of Appreciation.” One thing I’ve learned in life is that people just want to feel validated (or appreciated) as a human being. Another way of looking at it is showing kindness, not only to others, but to yourself. (Anyone else harder on themselves than they are on anyone else?) Being kind, saying please and thank you, going out of your way to help someone, SMILE, show concern for your fellow beings, appreciate what you have in life, and be grateful. Do you build people up? Or tear them down? I have a very friendly personality by nature, and just by being friendly, I don’t know how many times people have commented (both on the phone and in person) how much they enjoyed talking or dealing with me. That’s all it took, was just being friendly and being kind. And appreciating the other person. Not only should we do this with the public, but in our very own families. When was the last time you told your children/spouse/parent/grandparents, etc., how much you loved them, how much you appreciated them, and that you were proud of them? How many of us are still trying to find that validation from our family members? How many of us have quit jobs because we don’t feel appreciated? The list could go on. It’s not that hard. Just be kind. You’d be surprised how far it will take you.