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Appreciation has powerful mojo. Not only does appreciation feel good, it can literally lead to better relationships, new opportunities, a happier life, and a bunch of other greatness. Don’t limit appreciation to the last Thursday of November or your Facebook status updates the days leading up to your turkey feast. Live appreciation on the daily and let it rock your socks.
Here are 5 easy ways to have more appreciation in your life:
1. Give Yourself a Gold Star
You deserve a gold star. Not because you've done anything noble, generous, intelligent, or good, but because you are you. You are the only you that has ever existed, and honestly, you’re doing a fine job of it. Celebrate that. It’s difficult to appreciate the things around you when you don’t appreciate yourself. You are valuable, worthy, and downright neat. There is no need to strive for improvement...just start appreciating yourself. Pronto.
2. Open Your Eyes
Serious talk: find something in your life to appreciate. Once you find something, find another thing. Keep finding things until you snowball into a big mess of appreciation. It’s best to start with the little things that you don’t normally think about. When you start appreciating things like your toothbrush, it becomes excessively easier to appreciate bigger things...like the universe. You are living on a planet that is spinning perfectly in orbit. Better yet, the sun came up this morning and it wasn't on your “To Do” list. That’s pretty cool. Make it a habit of identifying the everyday things that are easy for you to appreciate...focus on those. Then do things that make you happy...that will lead to even more appreciation. Walk a dog, pet a cat, play with a baby, eat delicious food, look at the stars, breathe deep, drink a beer. Appreciate the fact that you are alive and surrounded by awesomeness. Life is for your enjoyment...get to enjoying.
3. Wake Up on the Appreciative Side of the Bed
The moment you wake up, you have the opportunity to set the stage for your entire day. Don’t mess it up. The thoughts you think at the start of your morning will set the tone for the rest of your day, so be deliberate. Lay in bed for a couple minutes and appreciate things you love...your pillow, your dog, your footie pajamas. If you have to hustle, feel appreciation for the running water in your shower and the jolt of your coffee. It doesn't matter what you appreciate, as long as it feels good when you think about it. Try to stay in appreciation as long as you can every day. I pinky swear promise that when you start your morning in appreciation and maintain it through your drive to work, you’ll have a better day. And honestly, who doesn't want a better day? No one I know.
4. Feel Something*
Appreciation has zero to do with words and everything to do with feeling. If you are saying appreciative words, but not feeling anything, you are blowing smoke. Appreciation in it’s pure form feels a lot like love, worthiness, clarity, fun, passion, excitement, exhilaration. These super cool emotions are powerful and they create momentum that will move you toward big improvements in your life in a short period of time. Get excited.
*Added bonus...when you feel appreciation for your yourself, your surroundings, and your awesome existence, you find yourself totally in control of your mood. Your appreciation isn't dependent on anyone’s actions...no one has to do anything to make you feel good. You just do. And if someone happens to hold the door open for you or buys you lunch, that’s icing on the cake. Appreciation FTW (for the win).
5. Ride the Wave
Don’t force appreciation. The momentum from Step 4...ride it like a wave. Once you get the momentum going, it takes minimal effort to keep it going. So enjoy it. Don’t stop your momentum by trying to appreciate people or situations that irritate you. Keep appreciating what makes you feel good. Be easy with it and your perspective will change, your days will improve, your hold ups will disappear. It’s easy to appreciate, it’s fun, it’s beneficial. No joke...feeling good is easy and it all starts with a little appreciation.
In appreciation,
Kristina
Kristina@youimpression.com
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