Appreciation

When you come right down it,  every man and woman just wants to be appreciated.  It’s really that simple.  The root of most of our frustration and unhappiness stems from some feeling of under appreciation in our work life or in our home life.  I have spoken with countless resilient workers and the themes are universally similar:

“My boss has no idea how much work went into that deal”.

“My company doesn’t care if I stay or leave.”

“Nobody recognizes the value I deliver to the organization.”

Somehow, as a corporate culture, we have lost our ability to show appreciation and loyalty.   As a result, workers become de-motivated, disillusioned and disinterested.  Why do we need this reaffirmation of our value?  Are we asking too much?  No!

We all want to feel as if we make a difference in the world.  Not to get too philosophical, but we are only on this earth for a short period of time.  The desire to leave a legacy, make an impact, and change the world (even slightly) is a fundamental part of our human nature.  If you are receiving this appreciation and recognition at work or at home, cherish it!  It is an incredible gift and you should thank your company or family for going out of their way to show their appreciation.

If you are not receiving this appreciation, you still need to find a way to stay motivated.  Remember, we are resilient workers and resilient people!  We have no choice but to stay positive and move forward.  There are two basic ways we can keep our perspective and avoid falling into a life of bitterness and mediocrity.  Neither one of them is easy, and it will require some mental toughness, but, if you are reading this blog, I know you have it in you!

First, you must look inward and candidly assess if you are actually making a difference in the world.  Are you putting forth the proper effort?  Are your clients, students, players, children or spouse positively impacted by your actions?  If the answer is yes, let that be your motivation!  Don’t let someone else’s insensitivity impact your own self-worth.  I realize it is far more meaningful when another person acknowledges your work, but craving that reinforcement often ends in disappointment.

Lack of appreciation should never deter you from delivering your amazing gifts to the world!
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Stay strong and stay motivated with the self-recognition that your work matters!

The second way to stay motivated and move forward is to actually show some appreciation and recognition of your own.  When was the last time you told a co-worker how much you valued their help?  How often do you thank your parents/spouse/children for the little things they do to make your life better?  Giving this appreciation does not mean you are looking for appreciation in return.  It is its own reward. Delivering genuine appreciation will help you stay positive and feel better about your contribution to this world.

 Through appreciation, we make excellence in others our own property.  Voltaire

I will finish post by putting this concept into practice.  Thank you for taking the time to read The Resilient Worker.  Thank you for staying with me on this journey.  I truly appreciate your dedication.

Until next week, keep smiling!

Rob