Finding Joy in the Everyday: The Practice of Appreciation
Appreciation is a powerful skill that involves relating to others and the world with a sense of gratitude, appreciation, and joy. This fundamental attitude can profoundly impact our overall well-being and relationships.
Practicing gratitude daily is a simple yet effective way to cultivate appreciation. Taking a moment each day to reflect on what you are grateful for, whether big or small, can shift your focus from what is lacking to what is abundant in your life. This practice can be transformative, fostering a positive mindset and enhancing your overall outlook.
Expressing appreciation is another crucial aspect. Letting others know when you appreciate their actions, support, or presence in your life can strengthen relationships and build a supportive community. This not only makes others feel valued but also reinforces your own feelings of gratitude and connection.
Mindful observation involves paying attention to the beauty around us—whether in nature, art, or simple daily moments. By savoring these experiences, we can cultivate a deeper sense of appreciation for the world around us. This practice helps us stay grounded and present, enhancing our ability to find joy in everyday life.
In the growth path, it states, “Being appreciative enables us to experience a deeper connection with others and the world, fostering a sense of joy and contentment.” I never realized how much of an impact appreciation could have on personal growth and relationships until I started integrating these practices into my daily life.
In my opinion, while appreciation is a strong foundation, many other skills within the 5 domains also contribute to personal growth. What skills make up your foundation, and how do they apply to your life?
Here’s what I did to develop appreciation as a core value:
First, I started a daily gratitude journal where I wrote down three things I was grateful for each day.
Second, I made a conscious effort to express my appreciation to friends, family, and colleagues regularly.
Third, I practiced mindful observation, taking time to notice and savor the beauty in everyday moments, whether it was a sunset, a piece of art, or a kind gesture.
How do you practice appreciation in your daily life, and what impact has it had on your relationships and personal well-being?
@brightFriend2998 hi, Thank you for this sweet and important post ❤
I kinda practice gratitude the same ways you do🙂 I love to sit in the garden and watch the sunrise and listen to the birds wake up, I do this every morning I can. I also love art and crafts, I do a lot of different art/craft methods. I also love listening to music, and I love having a candle lit throughout the day and evening their so pretty, kind of magical ❤ and I dont write a journal, but when I pray everyday I only pray for others well being, and say thankyou for the day ❤
@brightFriend2998
I don’t practice Gratitude so I have to fake it. I am sure this does not help but what can you do when you are unable to feel the emotions needed to be human.
@brightFriend2998 I think a big part of practicing gratitude is managing expectations as well, because we tend to chase after the things we lack rather than the things we already have. I like to practice gratitude by trying to feel everything and letting it go. It's a beautiful form of impermanence that allows us to realize that we should cherish everything as all things will always be fleeting in life ❤️
@brightFriend2998
When I feel low... I appreciate my effort to keep going even when I do little things I appreciate those little steps of mine....
I remind myself my own good things and how I fought for my struggle
@brightFriend2998I also started a journal
@brightFriend2998
Appreciation is so important! I love your strategies and I do some of the same things! I say thank you to my friends and family for little things but also really big things they do to help me, like providing comfort, support, and advice, and just going out of their way to help me when I need it. I think this helps strengthen our relationship and makes me feel good about myself too, just taking a moment to recognize how much other people care about me and how lucky I am to have them.
@brightFriend2998 I practice appreciation in my daily life by "positive reinforcement." Positive reinforcement is a psychological principle where you reward or acknowledge a specific behavior, making it more likely that the behavior will be repeated in the future. In the context of relationships, this can involve appreciating or expressing gratitude for things someone does for you, encouraging them to continue those actions. I do this by identifying the desired behavior, provide immediate feedback, be specific in my praise like "Thankyou for doing [task that did me good] for me. I like that.", use various forms of reinforcement (verbal praise, non-verbal gestures like smiling and nodding, rewards, privileges), consistently appreciating the act whether they do it first time or 100th time, personalize the reinforcement, gradually increase expectations, encourage self-reinforcement, maintain a positive environment, reflect and adjust my approach. Thanks for your post, it made me aware and efficient in my daily interactions by pondering over this topic.