Great Grandma is 99 Years Old and says she is most grateful for her current quality of health.

She still cares for her own daily needs, smiles, walks and cooks healthy meals.

"It is health that is real wealth, not pieces of gold and silver." - Mahatma Gandhi

Many of us express sincere appreciation during holidays, times of great success, trials and tribulations. What happened to being appreciative every day? And, not just for the big things, but the small things too.

We often trudge through our daily tasks without taking time to appreciate the process, people and little things that make each moment beautiful. Too often the focus is placed on where we are headed or what is next and we fail to appreciate where we are. This is vital because we never really know what the outcome might be or who will truly appreciate us in return. By fully appreciating the process while things are happening we get to enjoy each moment.

Appreciating what we already have rather than focusing on what we have not yet received will create a mind state of peace that allows us to flow more freely through our daily tasks.

“It’s not happy people who are thankful; it is thankful people who are happy.”

What is appreciation?
Appreciations is simply showing respect and gratitude to someone including yourself for the positive energy put forth in achieving something. It is one of the highest emotional states you may experience and helps create a life of abundance and happiness.

Looking For Appreciation
By focusing on the good in people and situations you will begin to find the miracle of appreciation. Once opening our mind and spirit to the concept of appreciation we need not look far for opportunities to express it. Each person and healthy activity that has a positive touch on our lives each day deserves some form of appreciation.

“Appreciation can make a day, even change a life. Your willingness to put it into words is all that it is necessary.” - Margaret Cousins

Making a Habit of Appreciation

1. Appreciate Others: “I appreciate you for __________.” Even the gas tenant deserves these simple yet powerful words. Take an extra moment to let people know of your appreciation. These words have the power to bring a frowning person to a happy one in an instant.
   
2. Write An Appreciation List: “I appreciate ______ in my life.” What do you appreciate now? You do not have to wait until you get the next big job promotion, attain the career / lifestyle of your dreams, have an amazing relationship with a significant other etc.
   
3. Look For Good: “Look for the good in a person and you will find it” Each day we are faced with a lot of positive and negative experience. Take the time to appreciate both and make you will be more conscious of what you wish to attract more of.
   
4. Self Appreciation: “I appreciate my _______ because it has provided me __________.” Look around right now! I am certain there is something you can be appreciative for. Since you are reading this you have access to technology that allows you to do so and you have the ability to read. Many people have neither. You likely ate breakfast this morning and have a job. The fact is we have a many things to appreciate in life in our lives right now.
   

“It is too often that we do not appreciate what we have until it is something that we had.”

I have lost relationships, spiritual, physical strength, mental strength, passion and material belongings with having never truly taken the time to appreciate them for what they are. I am no longer living like this.

I am making appreciation a healthy habit in my lifestyle and therefore am committing myself to a 30 day challenge of appreciation. During these 30 days I will apply each of the four principles above. I will write about how I feel before the 30 days and after. The result is sure to be a boost in happiness, positive energy and quality of relationships.

Summit as friends!
Scott