Episode 154: 2nd Annual Stories of Appreciation: Giving Thanks

Episode 154: 2nd Annual Stories of Appreciation: Giving Thanks

Ralph Marston, the author of the Daily Motivator, said, “Make it a habit to tell people thank you. To express your appreciation, sincerely and without the expectation of anything in return. Truly appreciate those around you, and you’ll soon find many others around you. Truly appreciate life, and you’ll find that you have more of it.”

I love his quotes – they are always so wise, and today his quote is going to usher in four stories of people who took the 2nd Annual Appreciation Challenge.

What is the appreciation challenge? Last year in episode 62  we had the 1st Stories of Appreciation episode where I asked specific people to identify someone in their lives who was under-appreciated and to show them profound appreciation, and then to share with us the experience.  Stay tuned to hear the four stories and get ideas for how to plant these seeds in your own life.

I have found that there is one thing everyone craves, and that’s appreciation. When we lavish it we create love, increased self-worth and simple satisfaction. We generate healthier relationships and we plant seeds for a harvest of even more good results from those to whom we have shown appreciation.

A person who feels appreciated will always do more than what is expected.

William James, well-known psychologist and philosopher, said, “The deepest principle of human nature is a craving to be appreciated.”

We all want and need to feel valued for who we are and we love being recognized for our contributions and accomplishments. It’s important for us to know that we have made a difference in the world and to the people around us. When a person takes the time to express real appreciation for something we have done it builds our self-confidence, but more importantly it helps us know we are seen, our efforts have been accepted, and it empowers us. More often than not a simple appreciation also infuses an energy and motivation to work harder and do more. It’s powerful stuff. So, let’s hop in and hear about the experiences people had in going out of their way to show appreciation.

Tune into the audio program to hear the stories from our participants.

I extend this same challenge to you. Think about someone in your life who is often under-appreciated and go out of your way to show them appreciation today. This way of building connection in your life is powerful! Share the love and appreciation, people. It’s a small and simple thing that makes the world and your relationships sooo much richer.

Happy Thanksgiving

Enjoy the abundance in your life and in your relationships. Create more abundance by planting these seeds for your own rich harvest. Thanks for loving Love Your Story.

Remember the website www.loveyourstorypodcast.com has all the episodes – these are also great for sharing. It’s easy to share a link and send someone an episode you think they’d enjoy. You can also buy your copy of LIFE Living Intentional and Fearless Everyday. It’s the perfect Christmas gift for all the people in your life who are seekers and want to create more connection, self-care and possibility in their lives. Easy to get off Amazon and fun to give. I’ll see you in a few weeks on the next episode of the Love Your Story podcast.