The Power of Appreciation

First published on July 7, 2017

I think, in many ways, appreciation of the people around us is the biggest gift we can give. More than that, I think appreciation from women for men is one of the most fundamental building blocks of a strong relationship, and the impact on the men involved is enormous. 

This week, I had a flash of immense gratitude for the women in my life, and in particular for their kind and loving appreciation of the things I do and the person I am. The group in my mind is a small group, but an incredibly valuable one. Some of them know who they are, but some probably don't know the value for me of sometimes small appreciation they give me. For me, and I suspect for most men, for someone to really see who they are, and to appreciate them for it, brings a kind of confidence, self belief and assuredness that is almost incomparable. 

My life hasn't always had this level of appreciation. I remember the incredible, powerful shift when my current relationship began. To have someone appreciating me, seeing me as a whole, but seeing those good things alongside the bad, and appreciating those parts of me, and accepting the rest. It accelerated the healing, the changing, the growth that was happening for me. But more than that, it guided me towards happiness. With the person I am. The shift, after a two year appreciation-less downward spiral at the end of my previous relationship was stark and incredibly powerful. It was healing and it was lovely. 

So there is an opportunity for you - especially if you are a woman - to appreciate the men around you. I don't know how powerful this is for women - I think there are probably other ways that make the most difference to them in their relationships. But for the men in your life, you can make a big difference in what may seem a small way. You can appreciate the things they do, and the men they are.