Meditation on Appreciation

Gratitude is a mental state of appreciation that that cultivates awareness and enlightenment. The word ‘appreciate’ has several meanings, but the two most important are: 1) to recognize the full worth of, i.e. be grateful for (something); 2) understand (a situation) fully. (Emphasis here on the words ‘full’ and ‘fully’). The word appreciate comes from Latin roots ap- meaning ‘to’ and preci- meaning ‘price’. The act of appreciation is an act of recognizing (read ‘relearn’) true value. Profound appreciation requires objectivity and critical thinking. It is not just the placement of positive feelings on a given circumstance, but it is an act of bringing awareness and learning to an object whose presence often goes overlooked.

“When something does not insist on being noticed, when we aren't grabbed by the collar or struck on the skull by a presence or an event, we take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.” - Cynthia Ozick

Why do things that are constantly present in our life often go unnoticed? Generally it is because our nervous system is primarily concerned with measuring changes. Things that have come to equilibrium in our lives no longer stimulate our nerves because the stimulus is constantly applied. Continuous feedback inhibits the nervous response in order to maintain function. We become numb. The act of appreciation therefore is an awakening of our nerves, a relearning and reapplication of the stimulus. Because of our tendency to numb constant stimuli, appreciation is not an act that maintains its effectiveness with one-time usage. It must be reapplied over and over in our lives and not left to one day of the year.

Profound appreciation does not just mean that one should be thankful for only the positive things in life. Gratitude is easily cultivated for things that are beneficial to us, but true appreciation requires one to assess all aspects of the subject with objectivity. Negative or harmful things are often buried beneath our conscience level of thinking because we wish to remain numb to the things that cause us to be vulnerable, or threaten our ego. More often than not stresses that are threatening to our wellbeing are only perceived as such. An objective reevaluation of our fears, sadness, and vulnerability requires patience, but can allow us the opportunity to free ourselves from the weight of such suffering, and represents the true courage required for enlightenment. 

Finally, the art of appreciation is skillfully practiced with critical thinking. Perspective provides the context for the value placed on something. There is no triumph without challenge. The solution and the problem are both equally important in this context. Striving to fully understand multiple perspectives and give each its proper weight provides a more sound way to find value, or lack thereof, in our unique circumstances. Ultimately, appreciation provides us a toolbox with which we can truly value the richness of our connections and existence. Thank you!