I realized that things can always get worse. Always. I’m trying to appreciate the things that are not getting worse. Although some situations are far from ideal, I’m beginning to understand that this ideal is a fantasy. Shackelton has taught me that I can endure even the worst situations if I can learn to appreciate.
People doing this are also doing these things:
Entries
How would you like to be treated?
21 months ago
Recently I’m reading about religions in my study book and
one chapter was about the idea to treat everyone else like you would like to be treated. The whole last week I tried to exercise myself in this.I always kept it in mind when I became angry at someone or somebody told me about something I’m not that interested in and I must say that it really works great.
Will try to continue with it!
jamie322 wants to talk less and do more!
Familial Bonds
23 months ago
Although my family (in-laws and blood) drive me absolutely crazy most of the time and piss me off to no end, I know that if it weren’t for them we wouldn’t have made it through some of our recent hardships. Regardless of hard feelings, I know I need to show them how much I appreciate them and I am going to make a sincere effort to do it.
to appreciate
3 years ago
I like Mike Robbins’ Appreciation in Action.
1) Be genuine. Any form of acknowledgment that you give has to be real, honest, and genuine if it is going to have any power or impact on the other person. There are too many insincere compliments thrown around on a daily basis. A powerful compliment must come from your heart and be real. A great way to make sure your compliment is honest is to do it in person and look the other person in the eye when you acknowledge them. It is very difficult to “blow smoke” when you connect with someone eye to eye and heart to heart.
2) Be specific. The more specific you are with your acknowledgement the better. Instead of telling someone that they are “great,” tell them what you think is great about them, what they did to inspire you, and/or specifically what you appreciate about them. By making your compliment specific it will not only have more power it will also inspire them to repeat the behavior and/or continue to develop the quality that you acknowledged.
3) Let them know how they impact you in a positive way. So often we express our compliments or acknowledgements as “judgments.” We say things like, “You’re smart, you’re funny, or I like you.” While there is nothing wrong with these statements, if you think about them they are really just judgments – positive judgments yes, but judgments nonetheless. If you tell someone they are smart, you could just as easily say they are stupid. However, if you let someone know how they have positively impacted you it is much more powerful. For example, you could tell them that listening to them talk inspires lots of great ides within you or that being around them makes you happy. Be specific and clear about what they did or what quality they have, AND, most importantly, the positive impact on you and your life.
4) Give without attachment. For a compliment to be effective, it must be given without attachment or expectation. If we give a compliment to get something in return from the other person, it is a manipulation not an acknowledgment. Acknowledge people simply because you want to, because you mean it, and because you want to let them know who they are and how they have positively impacted your life. If you notice that you want something in return or have an ulterior motive, you are not giving an authentic compliment.
5) Make sure they accept it. For a compliment to have real power, it is essential that it is fully accepted by the other person. At some deep level, you cannot control how other people take things and whether or not they truly let it in. However, you can tell if someone really takes your compliment or not. Often people will downplay it, blow it off, or even jokingly disagree with you and your compliment. Don’t let them do this – they rip you off and they rip themselves off in the process. People mostly do this because they are uncomfortable and are not sure how to truly let it in. If this happens, just look them in the eye, let them know that you really meant what you said, and remind them to just take it in and say “thank you.” You may feel a little pushy or awkward doing this, but if you are willing to say this with kindness, it will ultimately be a great gift for both you and the other person. More importantly, it will allow them to actually receive your gift/compliment.
