This week, many of my friends in the U.S. will sit down to a Thanksgiving meal. Last month, my Canadian community gathered for their own version of the holiday. Some Swedish friends in Panama shared how they honor the harvest in September.
The common thread? A moment set aside for giving thanks.
It’s a beautiful idea, isn’t it? Across borders, cultures, and belief systems … we instinctively know the power of gratitude.
But if we stop there, we miss something important.
There’s an important distinction that is rarely made between gratitude and appreciation … and that distinction can change your life.
Gratitude is often reactive. A response to kindness. It’s expected and polite.
Appreciation, on the other hand, is intentional. It’s about slowing down enough to notice what’s in your experience. To choose where your attention goes.
And when you pair appreciation with awareness, the practice becomes a tool. A therapeutic intervention. A wellness ritual.
This is the foundation of Aware Appreciation™ … a practice I created not to gloss over the hard parts of life, but to help us anchor in the real, the beautiful, and the empowering … even when things feel messy.
Here’s a simple truth that’s often overlooked:
You can feel overwhelmed, disappointed, frustrated … and still find something to appreciate.
Let me share an example.
Aware Appreciation™ is powerful. It can move you out of fight-or-flight and into your rational thinking brain. It builds emotional resilience. It expands your capacity to respond rather than react.
And the best part? You don’t need hours or a quiet room to practice it. You need just a few moments and a willingness to pay attention.
Here’s how to begin:
- Pause – Get present. Breathe.
- Notice – What’s one thing you genuinely appreciate right now? Make it specific.
- Name It – Say it out loud or write it down. Can you feel it in your body?
- Stretch – If it feels right, add another. What do you appreciate about your body? Your environment? A person in your life?
If you’d like structure, the Aware Appreciation™ Quick Start Guide is a wonderful companion. Just reply to this email and I’ll send it to you as my gift and appreciation for YOU.
Key Learning:
Gratitude gets you in the door. But Aware Appreciation™ is what settles you in and helps you feel at home … in your body, your life, and your relationships. It’s how we practice being our own PCP … Primary Care Person.
Try this today:
Before your next meal, take one minute to pause and ask, “What’s one thing I appreciate about this moment?” Let that be your medicine.
And when the holiday has passed, you might be ready for a reboot before the next wave of festivities begin. My Human Energy System Reboot is an effective way to give your body the support it needs.
