Cheer People Up with Appreciation

When I watched the movie “What the Bleep Do We Know” the part I was most fascinated by was the research done by Masaru Emoto a Japanese PhD researcher. Emoto discovered that water molecules change shape from beautiful crystals to misshapen molecules when viewed under a microscope, depending on the message directed at the water. See www.masaru-emoto.com for examples of crystals.

Even water likes to be thanked! During one experiment Emoto asked children from a Japanese elementary school to say “thank you” to bottles or water. What he discovered was the more times they said “thank you”, the more beautiful the crystals of water became. In contrast when they said “I hate you” the crystals disappeared leaving ugly and misshapen molecules.

Gratitude changes our molecules. Emoto concluded from his many experiments that gratitude was even more powerful than love. Since human beings are 70% water, this research throws new light on the value of saying positive things to each other, even on a physiological level, which leads into this month’s topic - the value of appreciation.

Praise brightens everyone’s day, but few of us get it and few of us give it. We tend to take each other for granted, and the worst of it is that the more competent we are the less likely we are to get it. Everyone assumes you already know. So what does it mean to appreciate someone else?

• Simplest level appreciation: On the simplest level it means saying “thank you” with specifics. “Thanks for getting that report in on time” or “thanks for cooking a great dinner”.
• High impact appreciation: On another level let someone know the qualities or talents you like about them. And don’t just pick an obvious talent that everyone sees. High impact appreciations are those that highlight something positive a person may not be aware in her or him self. Perhaps they lack confidence so they forget how skilled they really are. Whatever it is your praise will never be wasted.
• Written appreciations: Writing down appreciations has even more impact because the person can read them over and over. So when that group birthday card comes around for signing, take a moment to write something meaningful, not just the usual message. You can be sure the person will treasure it.

Let praise in when you get it. What goes around comes around. When you receive praise, remember to let it sink in rather than shrug it off. Let those water molecules inside you soak up the good messages coming your way, and you will be nourished in body and soul.

COMPLIMENTS OF GRACE GERRY www.gracefulsolutions.ca