Gratitude and appreciation

Gratitude and appreciation are sometimes used interchangeably and yet they are two different practices. The dictionary defines gratitude as "the quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful," while appreciation is defined as a "clear perception or recognition, esp. of aesthetic quality." Appreciation is also tied to the value we place in a person or situation. We express gratitude when we thank someone for a task they have performed which has been helpful to us. This may occur as a gift or an act of kindness that results in our betterment. We may tell someone we know that we are grateful for the help they gave in completing a project. We know that by increasing our expressions of gratitude we raise of sense of worth and happiness. Appreciation is about noticing what is happening around us. We express appreciation for a beautiful sunset or the understanding of a friend when we are going through a difficult time. Appreciation can be a way in which we express our gratitude. We might invite a friend to dinner as a way of demonstrating our appreciation for him or her. How are you expressing gratitude and appreciation in your life today?