THE APPRECIATION FACTOR
...let's remove that stereotype as we chat a new way forward.
As we begin to put down our closer for the year, more often than not, we always lay claims that ooh it's their job, it's their responsibilities, it's what they were put in that position to do, can you just pause and do an appraisal, and after that remember they are humans just like you. Charles Dickens in his book, Christmas Carol puts it "Every traveller has a home of his own, and he learns to appreciate it the more from his wandering" When you leave your locality often you will have clarity of what Charles Dickens is talking about. I had noticed how major streets in my locality were consistently kept clean and neat during the COVID-19 lockdown period and how the street lights were timely powered, so on one of my walls I dropped an appreciation to whom it may concern that I appreciate their efforts and that it is commendable. A day later, I got an email from one of the authorities, saying they were overwhelmed by the appreciation considering the backlash they got and at times for a whole tenure or year no appreciation just complaints and negative image projections, that was a whole new high for them. Just recently I noticed how patches on the road tributaries are thoroughly done, I recall vividly the backlash when they were in bad conditions and felt grateful, it's ok to say now that it's their job to get it fixed, just the way backlashes were rendered being appreciative won't be a deal breaker it's just courtesy. We try to stay away from bringing religion to draw analogies because the audience of BetterAhead is vast, but let me remind you that even God inhabits the praises of His people; I'll say make of it what is right. This idea is not just a bottom-top response, it could be vertical, according to research it shows that people claim to think about gratitude frequently, with 51% saying they think about what they should be grateful for daily. And yet people are withholding with their expressions of gratitude, especially to those who aren’t loved ones, the very common is how often you appreciate the seller after you have made a purchase, ohh he or she is not your loved one or you might even think that you're paying for it why the appreciation, why not consider how it will make the person feel. Also, 20% express gratitude daily to their parents, 15% to their close friends, 10% to their colleagues at work, 7% to their boss or employer. Just study the data, and you realize we allow proximity to make us not to appreciate people, having a mindset that they know without voicing it, just check the percentage of people who appreciate their close friends. Proximity can be abuse so we have to consciously learn to manage it properly, for instance, I try to consciously voice out my appreciation to my friends at times they feel weird but in my words I'll say, proximity and being too comfortable should not make us forget to appreciate ourselves.
Also on proximity is neglecting to appreciate yourself, you think you know your capabilities so much, well breaking news you need it too, psychology has posited that we need to speak and treat ourselves right holding it to the highest standard including appreciation.
Notwithstanding our biases, whether religious, political, socio-ethnic even personal you will agree that the appreciation factor is a necessity. As we round off this year, seek ways to appreciate people you are in love and relationships with, friends, superiors and subordinates let's remove that stereotype as we chat a new way forward.
