A man walking on a path to the temple

2 minutes read

Gratitude and Specificity

Gratitude and Specificity

When we express gratitude or appreciation, it’s good to remember to be specific. For instance, instead of saying “thank you for being in my life”, you could consider saying “thank you for being in my life and always inspiring me to be a better version of myself”.

Specificity matters. Instead of simply acknowledging to someone “You look lovely,” you could consider rephrasing the sentiment so that you are more specific by saying “You look lovely. I like what you’ve done with your hair.”

Being specific tells the other person to whom you are expressing gratitude and appreciation that you are aware of how they’ve contributed to your life in a unique way. Narrowing in on the “how” and “why” of your gratitude toward another reflects that you have taken the time to really look at the other person and the ways that he/she has affected your life. By sharing this understanding with the people you appreciate, you are making a difference in their lives by acknowledging their higher qualities and attributes.

I’ll leave you with a quote from my guru on gratitude and appreciation. He truly taught me so much about this simply by being a wonderful example of a person that lived with these qualities always in hand. He always made me feel that he appreciated everything that I did. It truly is one wonderful way of telling someone you love them.

So, show appreciation for every little thing that comes your way. Whether you express this verbally or not you can still express appreciation inwardly by acknowledging to yourself how grateful you are for what you have in your life.

“Gratitude and appreciation are the key virtues for a better life. They are the spell that is cast to dissolve hatred, hurt and sadness, the medicine which heals subjective states of mind, restoring self-respect, confidence and security.” ~ Gurudeva

More Articles

  • The Missing Link to Mindfulness
    May 5, 2021 Awareness & the Mind

    The Missing Link to Mindfulness

    Mindfulness is a popular buzzword at the moment with everyone and their grandma wanting to practice it, but most people don’t quite understand what mindfulness actually is. Let’s start by defining mindfulness. Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines mindfulness as “the practice of

    Learn More
  • Making the Case
    Apr 28, 2021 Awareness & the Mind

    Making the Case

    In teaching or encouraging others to learn to focus, we have to make the case. What do I mean by that? Well, let me tell you a story about how I learned this very important lesson. In 2018, I was invited to speak at the 18th World Knowledge Forum in Seoul, South Korea. The 3-day

    Learn More
  • An Extended Hiatus
    Apr 23, 2021 News

    An Extended Hiatus

    It’s been 5-months since I sent my last blog post. I was not planning for such a long hiatus from this but moving my family to Costa Rica from the US during a pandemic has been quite all-consuming and at times a little crippling. Thank you to those of you who have checked in wit

    Learn More
  • An Easy Target
    Nov 10, 2020 Insights on Life

    An Easy Target

    This article, as one of my readers so nicely put it, is about “...success as a subject and a target for criticism.” "If men perceived their own faults as they do the faults of others, could misfortune ever come to them?" ~ Tiruvalluvar Many years ago I was having a cup of coffe

    Learn More
  • America ... I love
    Nov 1, 2020 Conversations on the Spiritual Path

    America ... I love

    Eleven years ago I made the most difficult decision of my life. The decision to not renew my monastic vows and hence to stop living a life as a Hindu monastic. I left my guru’s monastery in Hawaii and instead of going back to Australia, I moved to the mainland US. Many years pri

    Learn More
  • Lesson Noted, Lesson Learnt
    Oct 13, 2020 Conversations on the Spiritual Path

    Lesson Noted, Lesson Learnt

    A couple of weeks back I was speaking with an entrepreneur who shared with me that she got involved in a personal issue with her client that she should have stayed out of. At that time she felt it was harmless to get involved in the conversation but later the whole thing played o

    Learn More

FREE Weekly Wisdom!

Get my free weekly emails and receive insights, teachings, & spiritual tools to live with purpose and joy.

* By subscribing you agree with our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Hindu mandala with intricate patterns and symbolic icons

Live a life of purpose & joy with the

Happier Life Program

Learn More