You're probably familiar with the idea that what you think about becomes your reality. If you're not happy with your reality, you need to change your thinking in order to create different results in your life.
One simple and practical way to change your thinking is to focus on what you're grateful for. There's a lot written these days about using gratitude journals to record what you're thankful for. Gratitude rocks are promoted as a simple way to remind yourself to focus on the good things. There's even a gratitude dance to help you change your attitude and boost your energy!
I personally use a gratitude journal on a daily basis and I teach others to incorporate gratitude into their lives. It works. It moves your attention from the difficult or negative stuff to things that are great in your world. As a result, you see and attract more good in your life.
However, I discovered a very insightful lens by lensmaster, theraggededge, that offers a different perspective. I love lenses that make me think, and this one definitely does that! In Appreciate Your Way to Happiness, theraggededge suggests that appreciation may be a better way to focus your thoughts on what's good and to create happiness in your life - - true, internal happiness that then spills out into your life.
But what's the difference between appreciation and gratitude? Why would appreciation be better?
Common definitions of appreciation are "to be grateful or thankful for," "an expression of gratitude" and "recognition of the quality, value, significance, or magnitude of people and things" (www.dictionary.com). A definition of gratitude is that "gratitude, thankfulness, or appreciation is a positive emotion or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received or will receive" (www.wikipedia.org).
At first glance, the terms seem to be the same. In fact, they are used interchangeably in these definitions.
However, there is a significant difference that theraggededge so insightfully points out. She writes, "Gratitude makes me think I owe this good-feeling to someone or something outside of myself . . . [but] appreciation comes from within. Appreciation makes me feel as though I am giving something rather than receiving something."
Makes sense.
Personally, I see gratitude as something that is within me and flows out from the core of me. It's a mindset of seeing the good - - a way of perceiving things and valuing things that I choose to frame my life with. Perhaps a better term for this is appreciation!
So, what do you think? And how would you incorporate appreciation into your life?
Theraggededge offers some suggestions. She beautifully shares several ways of integrating appreciation into your life, even including one of her own art journal pages as an illustration. She provides tips for simple, everyday practices as well as deeper methods of appreciating your life.
What can you implement?
Image Credit: Thank you Cards Modern Polka Dot Appreciation by theflowershop
cards made by zazzle.com
cards made by zazzle.com
Visit: Appreciate Your Way to Happiness
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by MiMi, MiMi. MiMi said: New post: Can Appre (http://bit.ly/9O4Luk #appreciation #gratitude #happiness #theraggededge #squidoo [...]
ReplyDeleteYes, Leanne, I do believe that appreciation can change your life. Although I had read Bev's lens before, your review gave me a better understanding of it and a new appreciation for the word "appreciation." I told Bev that it reminded me of the word namaste - the spirit in me recognizes the spirit in you - and that goes for all living things.
ReplyDeleteI am so happy that you are joining us here at Squidoo Lens Reviews.
Thanks for your comments, Kim. I agree with you about the concept of namaste being very similar to what's meant by appreciation (and that it applies to all living things). It's a great way to think about it and, really, takes it even deeper. Thanks for you insight.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Leanne, for writing that lovely article and featuring my lens. Thank you, also, Kim, for visiting and commenting.
ReplyDeleteVery much appreciated with lots of gratitude :-)
Bevxox
I think that there is no gratitude without appreciation. I can only be grateful for something if I appreciate it. Happiness is not of interest for me, but the capability to appreciate life very much.
ReplyDeleteWell I certainly appreciate this wonderful article by Bev, not to mention appreciating the great review you wrote for it! So yes, I'm all for appreciation and I think the more we look for things to appreciate, the more we see them. Welcome on board, Leanne -- it's good to have you on the team.
ReplyDeleteI read this excellent lens a time ago, and am in total agreement with Bev's idea of being appreciative more so than grateful. Well-done lens; great review, Leanne! In appreciation!
ReplyDeleteBev, you're very welcome. Thanks for the awesome lens and for making me think!
ReplyDeleteWordCustard, thanks for your comments. I agree - - the more we look for things that we can appreciate, the more we see. Then it grows and grows in our life.
MiMi, thanks to you too!
Martin, I think it's great that you focus on appreciation in your life.
Wonderful choice for a review, Leanne! It really is thought provoking. Welcome aboard!
ReplyDelete.-= BevsPaper´s last blog ..Gray Bird Native Boy Of The Plains =-.
Bev, you're very welcome. Thanks for the awesome lens and for making me think!
ReplyDeleteWordCustard, thanks for your comments. I agree - - the more we look for things that we can appreciate, the more we see. Then it grows and grows in our life.
MiMi, thanks to you too!
Martin, I think it's great that you focus on appreciation in your life.