Addiction to appreciation

We are all taught to understand the value of kind and respectful words in our daily interactions. From childhood, we are repeatedly asked to speak politely, use good language, and appear pleasant to others. But there is something even more important than the words we speak and our appearance: our thoughts and feelings!

MISMATCH IN WORDS AND ENERGY

Have you ever had someone praise you using perfect words, but you still felt uncomfortable or uneasy around them? Words spoken are just sounds if they are not backed by sincere thoughts. People may speak politely, but if their internal energy doesn’t match their words, we can sense the mismatch and lack of authenticity. The energy we carry in our thoughts and feelings penetrates our words and reaches the receiver. Real relationships are not based on how we talk but on how we think and feel.

Thinking right has never been part of our education, but it forms the foundation of our inner life and all our relationships. While right words and behaviour were taught and practised, we remained uneducated in creating pure thoughts and positive intentions regardless of external situations.

THE SILENT SEEKER OF APPROVALS

In today’s fast-moving world, appreciation has become something we crave more than we realise. Many of us take extra efforts in work, relationships, or creative pursuits just to hear a few kind words. And when we don’t receive appreciation from those who matter to us, we feel discouraged. Over time, this has created mental dependency.

Among all forms of addiction — like scrolling on screens, chasing wealth, power, or fame — the addiction to appreciation is the most subtle and often goes unnoticed. It seems harmless because it gives a mental high. Anything that controls our state of mind is an addiction. If we can only feel happy or motivated when someone appreciates us, we have lost control over our own feelings. The good news is that just as we have developed this habit, we also have the power to break it and build emotional independence.

CAN YOU APPRECIATE YOURSELF?

If you find that your best efforts are driven only by the hidden desire to be appreciated, it’s time to pause. What if you became the one to appreciate yourself first? Imagine how strong and free you would feel if your motivation came from within.

When your inner self needs support, let your higher self offer kind and powerful words. This way, you will never run out of encouragement. You won’t need to wait for others to lift you — you’ll already feel full. Let’s meet the world fulfilled, not with empty hearts asking for appreciation. That is strength!

Courtesy: Rajyoga Meditation Centre, Kingston (meditation courses and counselling are offered free of charge). Get in touch via email: bkmeditation.jam@gmail.com or WhatsApp: 876-853-7848. Follow them on Instagram: rajyoga_meditation_jamaica.