Your kind words of appreciation can impel someone to outstanding achievement. Even if they were not worth those beautiful words, trust me, it will motivate them to learn more, and their next step will be even better.
Appreciation is “the acknowledgment or satisfaction of someone or something’s positive qualities.” It is an act of selflessness. In the workplace, gratitude can be as easy as saying “thank you” for a well-done job. Appreciation increases self-esteem, leading to happiness and a sense of well-being. Satisfaction is crucial in our careers, but where does this satisfaction actually come from? It’s when positive people come up with positive words for someone. Appreciation positively impacts us because it spreads energy and goodwill. How it is conveyed is likely more important than what it is. Our appreciating attitude can demonstrate to people that they are worthy of a smile or a joyful day. “A freely given gift” is one way to describe what their efforts are like. It starts at home, how you appreciate your daughter for doing house chores or your son for fetching things from the market.
Giving positive feedback and thanks for good work should be a daily event. A simple congratulations and good remarks for a noteworthy initiative or effort can suffice. Appreciation not only increases general well-being but also boosts self-esteem. Giving someone quality time and taking an interest in their job and personal growth can be considered as appreciation. It promotes involvement and a culture in which everyone wants to participate.
How you treat people defines who you are. You are not respected based on your appearance, clothing, or rank in the industry. The way you treat people, the way you deliver words, the soft corner you have for people around you, and the way you express gratitude or your responsibility as a citizen will give you the utmost respect. How you appreciate people will define your love and care for them. Your appreciative nature will determine your way of conduct.

Why does appreciation matter?
• If you have difficulties freely admiring others, you likely have problems appreciating yourself. Take a few seconds at the end of the day to ask yourself, what can I rightfully be proud of today? What can I do better tomorrow? You might ask yourself this question if you are committed to ongoing self-improvement. Both questions are important to you.
• People feel better when they are recognised. At its most fundamental, it makes us feel comfortable, which allows us to do our best work. It’s also invigorating. When our value seems to be threatened, as it frequently does, the concern becomes preoccupying, draining and diverting our energy away from creating value.
• The more precise you can be about what you admire — and the more you recognise what’s most important to that person — the more positive your influence on that person will be. A handwritten message or a voice note is more memorable than an email or a passing comment, but any of them is preferable to nothing at all. We are all more vulnerable and dependent than we prefer to think. Appreciating others can make you feel better about yourself and improve the likelihood that they will invest more in their work and you. The human drive for reciprocity is powerful.
Appreciation is a valuable everyday skill that we may employ in our society. Unfortunately, it is underutilised, and many of us say, “Why should I be grateful and praise someone who is simply performing his or her job that they are paid to do or complimenting someone who have accomplished something for themselves?” You can find peace in that you will benefit yourself, even if you think showing appreciation would be constructive to others. In any case, improving your appreciation for the things and people around you will not, at the very least, make the world a worse place!
So, why not give it a chance?
Talking about my experience, I appreciated myself whenever I did something worth it. I was demotivated by society at times for my work. Do I get paid if I write? What do I get after writing thousands of words? Well, I had only one answer, and that is self-satisfaction. I do what I am satisfied and happy with. People would laugh at my thoughts, but I kept doing what I was delighted with. When I started sharing my thoughts on social media, I didn’t find any positive responses from most people, but to be honest, I kept repeating to myself that they were not on my level. I am far better than them, which is how I could appreciate myself then. Even today, I hardly find people to understand my work, but I don’t care anymore.
Before I conclude, let me tell you, most people won’t be happy with your work, including your parents, colleagues, friends, or your relatives, but that should not affect your will to do something good for yourself and society. We live in a community where most parents want their children to do what they wish to; your colleagues and friends are jealous of you; and your relatives don’t want you to lead. So, drop them there and run behind what you are good at; they will run behind you soon.

The writer is the author of the book, ‘Surviving the Apocalyptic Society’, and is currently pursuing BE Civil Engineering from SSM College of Engineering

Mohmod Irfan Shah