master appreciation

“True abundance comes not from amassing, but from appreciating.”
- Carter-Scott, author

A good thing to remember.

I once asked about the difference between appreciation and love. I think I’ve found one answer to it:
- appreciation focuses on specific qualities a person has
- love is the appreciation of a person’s whole existence

Do comment if you find this short-sighted or have different approaches to the question.
There could be many more answers. I also got a few interesting and very sensible responses the last time I asked this question, but it still intrigues me.

I want to strive for continuity. I’m usually so impulsive that I either express so much appreciation for someone that it might feel awkward to them or completely take them for granted, forget birthdays, go for long periods without contacting people etc. Maybe that’s allright, because my friends tend to disappear and reappear as well, but still…
Continual appreciation takes quite an effort, so it’s probably okay if it’s reserved for a select few. But still, I think I should maintain some sort of basic continuity in my relationships. I want to be thoughtful enough to send birthday wishes and maybe call or write at least once a month.

The wonderful thing about appreciation is that it’s spreading happiness and contentment for everyone concerned. Now that I have some free time I have contacted those friends I lost sight of lately and it’s great to know how they’re doing. And it’s nice to seethat I’ve been thought of and missed as well by some.

how difficult to appreciate what I don’t understand…

Is it really necessary to appreciate everyone and everything to master appreciation?

I guess appreciation is a specific outlook on life. It must be seeing and promoting the good in everyone and everything (and forgiving the bad – impossible to see only the good).

What’s the actual difference between appreciation and love? Is there one?

until now I have thought of this goal in a rather active, anthropocentric way.
It just occured to me that I should see this goal in a wider context. For one thing, appreciation does not have to start with action… I guess it has to start in thought and result in action.
Another thing is, that I want to include my relationship with God, as well as with nature in this. Starting with silent appreciation that moves on to active appreciation…
It seems impossible to ever be appreciative enough. The good thing about it is that there is always room for expansion :) Can’t possibly become boring.
By the way, I have kept this in mind – not constantly, but now and then – and I think it has effected some minor changes in the way I think and act. Yay!

I like the specific wording of this goal. Even though it might not be possible to master appreciation, I guess it’s good to strive for perfection in this.
I’ve often thought of it the past few weeks. I want to make sure it stays in my mind, so I’ll add it to my list. (Thanks for the inspiration, hajush.)

Appreciating people is probably one of the best things – or maybe even the best thing – I can do for them. Feeling appreciated by others is so crucial to appreciating oneself…
I guess there are many ways to do this. I’ll jot some down which seem especially important to remember:

- listening
- keeping in touch
- compliments and praise
- solicitousness (does it have a negative connotation in English? I hope not :) )
- helping people to achieve what is important to them

It’s quite a challenge…
feel free to suggest any other ways of appreciation!