Learn to express your appreciation. It is not enough to think that someone is being kind and good; a kind word unsaid is a kind thought wasted. Go up to people, reach out to praise them, thank them, appreciate them for what they have done and you will really make a difference!
I knew a young man who came from a wealthy family of successful businessmen. Unfortunately for him, being born with the proverbial silver spoon did not do him much good emotionally. His parents were convinced that the only way to make him achieve success was to criticise him constantly. He had to learn! He had to avoid making mistakes! He needed to be told what was wrong with him. Life was tough. It was a big, bad world out there and he had to be aware that there was a rat race which he had to win at all costs. And so they constantly criticised him; they found fault with everything he did. He had to get better! He had to try harder! His efforts were not good enough for them, no matter how hard he tried!
The young man did succeed. He too became a successful wealthy entrepreneur, just like his father. But he was not a happy man. He regarded his work as a severe drudgery; he was always conscious of the mistakes he made; he was constantly depressed; he undervalued himself. He was scarred for life because he had failed to receive appreciation when he needed it!
All of us need to bask in the warmth of appreciation every now and then. Otherwise, our self-respect becomes endangered.
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