He who appreciates another, enriches himself
The world we live in is not perfect but we must recognise ourselves and happily be a part of this perfection
Respect and appreciation for others is the perfect antidote to the ego as well as negative emotions like depression, frustration, resentment and bitterness.
When we fail to respect and appreciate our family and our friends, our spiritual evolution is thwarted, and our minds are darkened. Giving respect to others earns respect for us; appreciation and gratitude illumine us from inside, and brighten the environment we live in.
Appreciation also helps us grow in the spirit of tolerance and acceptance.
The world we live in is far from perfect; we are not ourselves paragons of perfection; the same goes for the people around us. As they say, it’s a crazy, mixed-up world but we must recognise ourselves as part of all this imperfection, and accept life as it comes.
I am afraid we are living a life of such egotistical and selfish preoccupation that we simply fail to appreciate others.
The neighbour who greets you with a bright smile and cheerful hello...
The domestic help or office attendant who is always pleasant and well mannered...
The security at the gates of your society who unfailingly allows your vehicle to drive through with a friendly greeting and salute...
A warm, delicious and wholesome meal that your mother has cooked and kept ready for you...
A friend who asks you with genuine care and concern, “How are you”?...
Every day we are a witness to acts of courtesy and kindness offered to us. Let us not dismiss them as small or trivial. They deserve to be appreciated!
It was George Mathew Adams who said: “He who appreciates another enriches himself far more than the one whom he praises. To praise is an investment in one’s own happiness. The poorest human being has something to give that the richest could not buy.”
When I find fault with others, I regard myself as superior better than the others. This is pride, this is egoism. This must be overcome if we are to be truly happy.
We lean on our friends for support, cry on their shoulders but fail to appreciate them for always being there for us
It is our besetting fault that we often take others for granted. We eat what is placed on the table but fail to appreciate the person who cooked the meal. We lean on our friends for support, cry on their shoulders but fail to appreciate them for always being there for us.
Of a great English poet, I read that he never spoke a word of appreciation to his wife. So long as she lived he criticised her and found fault with everything that she did. Suddenly, the wife died. The poet was grief-stricken. He was ashamed that he had failed to write poems in appreciation of her, when she had been alive. “If only I had known,” he lamented. “If only I had known...”
Truly it has been said, life is too short to be small. Let us not be small-minded. Let us be generous with praise, appreciation and encouragement. Take the lead in appreciating others! Do not be calculative in giving and receiving praise. Human relationships thrive on caring, sharing and mutual appreciation.
We rely on our loved ones, our friends and those closest to us, for moral support and encouragement. In this, as in other things, what we send out comes back to us. For life is like a boomerang: what we are, what we do, comes back to us. When we give our best to the world, when we send out warmth, love and appreciation it all comes back to us. We often think of our friends, spouses and parents as ‘pillars of strength’, which are always there for our solid support. I urge you to occasionally think of them as precious plants that need constant tending! When tensions are rising and troubles are mounting, it is people who are close to us that bear the brunt of our stress. We are often courteous, polite and kind to perfect strangers, but rude and brusque to our own spouses and parents. Give your best to your loved ones and those closest to you.
Silent appreciation is not of much use to anyone. Therefore, learn to express your appreciation. It is not enough to think that someone is being kind and good; a kind word unsaid is a kind thought wasted. Go up to people; reach out to praise them, thank them, appreciate them for what they have done and you will really make a difference!