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To appreciate goodness is more than simply being aware of it; it's treating it as special.

Awareness says, "That’s nice." Appreciation says, "Wow—that’s so meaningful!"

One way to practice appreciation is to add the word "because" when saying, "I'm grateful for..."

We talk about gratitude a lot these days—but what if we’ve only been skimming the surface?

There’s one tiny word that’s transformed how I practice gratitude. I’ll get to it (I promise)—but if you can’t wait, scroll to the bottom. First, let’s zoom out.

The Family Tree of Appreciation

This piece is Part 3 in a mini-series on the Grammar of Gratitude. In Part 1, we defined gratitude and compared it to other positive concepts, like optimism. In Part 2, we discussed how gratitude is part of a family of language-based affirmations, which includes praise, encouragement, and celebration.

In this installment, we’ll zoom out further to see how gratitude fits within a larger emotional family—appreciation.

To appreciate is more than to notice. Awareness says, That’s nice. Appreciation says, Wow—that’s so meaningful! It’s the difference between glancing and taking in something good with both heart and mind.

As psychologist Ronnie Janoff-Bulman puts it: When we appreciate something, we treat it as special.

So let’s explore five forms of appreciation that can make life more fulfilling.

1. Admiration: The Spark of Aspiration

When you admire someone, you appreciate their skill, character, or achievement.

You’ve probably heard the advice “Don’t compare yourself to others.” But here’s the twist—admiration is a form of comparison, and it’s not always bad.

We need to recognize that admiration has a malicious twin—envy. The difference?

Envy........

© Psychology Today