Why You Need To Appreciate Others

Build people up instead of tearing them down, appreciate them instead of taking them for granted, and be kind instead of being insensitive. Let’s focus on compassion and love and let’s make the world a better place. ~ Rubyanne

As human beings we were created by God. We were made in His image.

In many ways we are like Him. But there is an exception; our imperfections make us different from Him.

God gave man intelligence and instructed that he takes dominion over all other things on this planet we call earth. He also gave us the free will to make choices. By our intelligence, we should know what is right and what is wrong.

Human beings want to love and be loved. We want to be appreciated for who we are and what we bring into other people’s lives.

Everyone wants to feel important. We want people to appreciate us for our beauty, seen in terms of what we do for them. We want people to see our value because of the contributions we make to their lives. We want others to express gratitude for bringing comfort and light into their lives.

We want to leave a meaningful legacy and to be remembered for our good deeds. We want to leave our footprints on the sands of time and be appreciated for the many lives we have touched.

But if I may ask, what are we seeing today, in our modern world? People’s behavior strongly suggest we have lost touch with our humanity. We no longer place value on human life. Murder and other social vices are common place. People seem not to care about the misery and suffering of others once they are not affected.

I am here to announce that we can change this narrative and together make this world a better place. We must see ourselves as one through creation.

Appreciating others is a powerful tool for nurturing and building lasting relationships. This must not be limited to only those within your family circle. Appreciate the humanity of everybody who comes into your world.

You must be thankful for every act of kindness from people. Let them feel valued and appreciated for their act of kindness.

We all have our highs and lows. We cannot hide our emotions and feelings from people who know us well.

Sometimes you may be in low spirits and someone comes to you with a kind word of advice, little tips of wisdom or gives a smile to brighten your day, be quick to thank that person. You’re thanking him for cheering you up and giving you a new perspective on life.

Sometimes you are burdened with a heavy workload. Anyone who helps lighten your burden rightly deserves your appreciation. Once you do that, the person’s self-esteem is raised, he’s encouraged to assist others in need.

When your neighbor is in trouble or suffering, do not turn a blind eye to it. Never take delight in the suffering of another person. You never know whether you will be the next person to be in a similar situation. Do your utmost best to relieve somebody of his plight and he would be grateful for it.

Never underestimate the impact you can make in someone’s life. They will always remember you for your singular act of compassion and kindness. Even a kind word from you can stick with someone for a long time.

When you open the door for somebody, or giving your seat to an elderly person or helping somebody carry their load, they will love and appreciate you. It shows the respect you have for them and how much you value them.

Always remember to express gratitude to anyone who comes to your aid in your darkest moments or when you were in a distress and needed help. Would you not be thankful to your lifesaver?

Some of us behave in ways that shows that we are insensitive to the sufferings of the people who have helped mold us into the people we are today. Do you know the sacrifices your parents made in giving you a good education to create many opportunities for you in life? What have you done in appreciation for their efforts? It is ridiculous to talk of giving them a fitting burial upon their demise when putting food to the table was a daily struggle for them.

The immutable law of karma will certainly take care of such situations. We should be kind to our parents. We should show appreciation, and be thankful for the role they played in molding us to be what we are today.

We should always show appreciation for the lives of our loved ones. If there is anything good you want to do for them, do it without further procrastinating. You never know when they will make their exit or breathe their last.

Praise is a form of appreciation. When your ward performs well in school, praise him. It will embolden and give him the confidence to work towards excellence.

You can be appreciative of your own life and achievements. When you are thankful for what you have, you will end up having more. There is a lot to be thankful for, your accommodation, transport, your loved ones, your career, the natural environment that sustains life and achievements you can be proud of.

Appreciation is the pivot around which goodness revolves. It is the flavor and aroma of life.

To wrap up, here is my favourite quote on appreciation from Ralph Marston who wrote: “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.” Thanks for allowing me to be part of your life transformation journey.

Yours in inspiration,
Abundant Robert K. AWOLUGUTU, Writer & Author