We all like being appreciated, but have you ever wondered why? What is it about receiving gratitude that nourishes us? Here are five possible reasons how we’re touched, tickled, and delighted when others float appreciation toward us.
We’re Being Valued
We perform a good deed and someone offers a warm “thank you,” a reassuring nod, or a gracious gesture. Perhaps we share a poem, show an art project, or fix a leaky faucet, and we’re praised and validated for it. At that moment, someone takes the time to notice and value us amidst our fast-paced life. Something about being valued feels good — if we can only let it in fully.
Children need to feel valued so that they can gradually internalize self-valuing. We develop our sense of self from how we’re perceived by others. If we receive positive mirroring, we feel good about ourselves.
