Why is appreciation so powerful?
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I’m just not in the mood to be ‘grateful’. When shit gos down, the last thing I’m thinking is, “oh wow, I’m so grateful for the air in the lungs.” Likely, all I’m focusing on is, “omg what is happening?!” This is why, when times get tough, I dip into my post-traumatic growth bag and pull out what I would consider to be the best resource of all: APPRECIATION.
In this blog, I unpack the term and share 5 compelling reasons why appreciation is so powerful… perhaps even more so than gratitude.
What is ‘appreciation’?
Put simply, appreciation is the recognition AND enjoyment of the ‘good’ aspects of something or someone. It’s a deliberate choice to look for the ‘good’ and proactively share it, whether that’s by telling someone how much they mean to you or telling yourself how awesome you are.
Appreciation often precipitates gratitude, but not the other way around, so it’s a vital first step in your journey to ‘Spiral Up’. When we appreciate something, it’s behavioural as much as it is an attitude, an opening of your heart in admiration. Which, to me, increases self-value and puts me in a much better mood!
On the other hand, gratitude is a much shorter lived experience requiring deeper reflection. It’s often conflated with appreciation but the two terms function very differently in our lives. To be truly grateful requires more brain power as you need to work through not only the object of your gratitude, but why it’s made you feel that way.
Dr Maz is both grateful and appreciative of a fresh pastry!
5 reasons why appreciation is more powerful than gratitude
As one of the 5 domains of post-traumatic growth, appreciation has so much power that often goes untapped in the face of sexier practices, like gratitude. So here’s 5 reasons why you might like to incorporate it into your everyday routines.
Appreciation is an active engagement with the present moment
It helps us develop a deeper connection with our experiences and surroundings. For example, research shows that people who develop post-traumatic growth tend to actively look for and identify good things happening around them, rather than just being passively grateful.
Appreciation is more action-oriented
It's about being "an appreciative audience" and actively engaging with others through deep listening and emotional connection.
Appreciation can be practiced as a deliberate strategy for personal growth and development
It helps in reconceptualising circumstances in ways that create meaning and growth potential. This is most definitely the realm of post-traumatic growth. By observing the qualities of something or someone that you deem good, even if the circumstances are shit, you can reframe a painful story into a more helpful one.
Appreciation has a broader scope
It encompasses not just positive things but also helps us process and learn from challenges. For instance, we can "appreciate failure" as part of our growth journey in business or creative pursuits.
Appreciation can be more sustainable and authentic than gratitude
While gratitude is often practiced as a routine (like listing 5 things before bed), appreciation involves deeper engagement with our experiences and can lead to lasting positive changes in how we view life.
Appreciation is about being present and connecting – not just about being thankful in retrospect.
Mini challenge: Cultivating your appreciation practice
Now it’s over to you! At some point today, can you write down 2-3 things you appreciate about yourself. Start small: maybe it’s the kindness you showed a colleague, or a tasks you completed, or even how you took care of yourself by drinking water. You can build on this by extending your appreciation to other people, activities and places in time, but starting with the topic you know the most about is the best way to practice.
If you appreciated this blog enlightening, you’ll get a kick out of my Substack, The Creative Urge.
