The Treasure of Appreciation

We are often told to be more appreciative or grateful for a handful of things in life. However, not many know what that truly means. This essay attempts to dissect the concept of appreciation, its elements and how to have more of it in life.

Appreciation is the acknowledgement of an object, physical or otherwise, for its present or past benefits. The object could be virtually anything, from experiences to physical materials. When we acknowledge how an object has or does benefit us, we become appreciative.

In order for appreciation to be valid, it must satisfy the following conditions:

1. The object must exist. As stated earlier, this need not be physical—it could be mental, social or even spiritual. (Existence is relative to one's perspective, and so it, or appreciation, is subjective. With that in mind, appreciation is unique to one's attitude toward an object, making it subjective at its core.)
2. The appreciator must acknowledge the assigned meaning of the object. Plenty of things in the world have some kind of meaning, and an appreciated object is no exception. The benefit it provided can be a meaning on its own, even if it was not acknowledged at the time of its emergence.
3. The object must be unique to the appreciator. Its experience must not be replicable. Naturally, all experience cannot be replicated, so this condition is checked without doubt.
4. The object must be finite, in presence and in time of existence. If it can last forever, the appreciation of it will inevitably wane. If it can be with the appreciator, they will get accustomed to its loyal presence. Appreciating the object will henceforth be difficult, because acclimatisation to its presence blinds the person from its meaning. If it is plentiful, the appreciation will be weak for the same reason.

To increase your appreciation toward an object, ask yourself the following questions:

• Where or what would I be if it were not for the object? Suppose it never accompanied you. How would you life have been different?
• When did I not have the object? Recall a time when the object was not in your life. How was it back then?
• How has it helped me? This is basically acknowledging the benefits the object brought to your life.
• What if the object was different? Suppose it was not as it is now. Would you feel the same way toward it as you do now?
• How would I feel if it permanently dissipated tomorrow? Suppose the object will not be with you. How would things be different?

Tip: acknowledge that one day, it will disappear. One day, that object you appreciate will not be with you. Fear not; its inevitable perish will strike you with an abundance of appreciation.

That is all. I appreciate you reading this.

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