We know how good it feels when we are appreciated and for those reading Onward, we also know that the habit of appreciation helps boost our resilience. So make a commitment to appreciate others more often. For those in education, as the school year winds down, this is the perfect time to appreciate other staff members, your students, or members of your community.
Love these tips on appreciation that Elena Aguilar shares in Chapter 12 of Onward:
- Be genuine. An inauthentic appreciation is disconcerting.
- Speak from the heart. This requires vulnerability, so recognize your emotions.
- Talk about the impact the other person’s actions have had on you. For example: “I appreciate how, every time I arrive at school, you welcome me with such warmth. It makes me feel happy to be here.”
- Stay focused on the recipient. Twisting an appreciation into a way to get your own emotional needs met takes away from the appreciation. For example, this is not a true appreciation: “I wanted to thank you for bringing in my kids after recess when I wasn’t out there; I was stuck in the office trying to finish making copies, and if this school functioned at all, I wouldn’t have been late.” A true appreciation would be, “Thanks so much for bringing in my kids after recess. It was a relief to know that they weren’t outside waiting for me.”