Following up my last post on humankind, and all the reasons to be there for one another more now than ever, I wanted to reflect on how mindfulness and appreciation are two of the most connected topics.

With more awareness, we see the whole picture of our lives, neither good or bad, right or wrong, but what simply is.

One thing I have found rises to the top of simple awareness however is an appreciation for everyone and everything around me.

Anywho, this is the aim of this post, to uncover not just what appreciation does to us, but how to cultivate and feed the profound act of appreciation each and every day. Hope you like it!

“Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.” – Voltaire. 

Appreciation changes the mind of pure observation and adds a most important ingredient: gratitude.

Appreciation shifts the perspective of an experience from simple observance (which is often turned into judgmental observance because of the ego) to blessed observance (which is appreciating the fullness of an experience through the lens of gratefulness regardless of if the experience is good, bad, or ugly).

Blessed observance fully counteracts judgmental observance because it makes light of everything, not just the good.

And making light does not imply all attached emotions to the good, bad, and ugly aren’t there (in fact they are seen even greater). It means those emotions are lit up, illuminated by the light of appreciation for them.

You can appreciate something without giving it a pass. You can appreciate a bad or ugly experience without saying it’s okay.

It can very much not be okay, and action or speech must be taken to call out wrongdoing or injustice.

But even in those situations we are observing from fullness of appreciation and not partially from judgement.

So then, with the confidence and knowledge that appreciation is not just “good” for us, but rather essential, how do we find a way to express authentic appreciation each day?

This is where mindfulness comes in! During the daily practice of meditation, we open our hearts and minds to all that surrounds us, again, not tainted by any judgement of those surroundings.

If what we see, hear, and feel brings us down; then we can appreciate the light at the end of the tunnel they show us, and make steps to change our immediate environment.

One way during my meditation that I am able to hone in on appreciation is asking a simple question, “What are you blessed with?”

Then I name ten things on each finger that I am presently appreciative for in my life.

1. Family, who love and care for me deeply.
2. Friends, who enjoy my company.
3. A roof over my head.
4. Food in my belly.
5. Clean water to drink.
6. Clothes that keep me warm.
7. The profound practice of meditation.
8. A healthy body to run around in.
9. The gorgeous state of Utah I get to run around in.
10. A great car that gets me anywhere I want.

Appreciation for the littlest of things to the largest of moments. From the very breath I am taking right now to my beloved sister Amanda who passed away when I was eighteen.

Three More Things:

1. Read – How to be more apprecaitive every day.
2. Listen – Appreciating what we already have.
3. Watch – Want to be happy? Be grateful.