TAG Leadership

Consider Gratitude. Grateful for Life. Feeling the seeds of Thankfulness and Appreciation. Finding value in tests. A constant and sincere attitude of that Thankfulness and Appreciation. Indeed, I have long suggested that Gratitude is our inner sense. Thankfulness is our verbal expression of that inner sense. And, Appreciation is our action around same.

In this special Thanksgiving Edition of Aim High, I ask that you think about it. I humbly offer that Gratitude is the inner practice; a countenance, if you will. It is the source of Sincerity around being thankful and appreciative. Thankfulness could be considered that practice of acknowledging same...

... and Appreciation is the action that appreciates the value of someone or something. If depreciation is devaluing, Appreciation is valuing someone or something through our deeds and actions.

Recently, I posted a bit of a mega post on Leadership, and I humbly encourage the read and reflect. That said, I also offer up a thought that great Leadership is grounded in a genuine spirit of Gratitude, expressive in words through Thankfulness and actioned through Appreciation. Indeed, these words immediately above inspire my own Understanding of same on this Canadian Thanksgiving Weekend. Please allow me to offer up on...

The Art and Act of Appreciation

My take is that Appreciation is action engaged.

• Consider that being generous in prosperity is appreciative. We bring value to the world and our respective corners of it, through Generosity.
• Being thankful in adversity by taking responsive action is appreciative of the tests, if you will. We do not wish the tests upon us, but we "appreciate" them as teachers. We find and acknowledge their value in our response.
• Being worthy of the trust of our neighbor, and looking upon them with a bright and friendly face is appreciative. We bring value to those around us at home, school, work, business and community.
• Being a treasure to the poor is appreciative.... as is being an answerer to the cry of the needy. Again, we bring value.
• Being an admonisher of the rich is appreciative, as admonishing is to remind of Responsibility, and reminding of Responsibility is a recognition of capacity. In admonishing the rich, we are not "judging" but reminding same of their capacity for good in the world. This is Appreciation.
• Being a preserver of the sanctity of our pledge is appreciative, as it is about keeping our true promises.
• Being fair in our judgment, and guarded in our speech is appreciative... as is being unjust to no one. Resisting the knee jerk attack and practicing Honor with others... brings value.
• Being as a lamp unto them that walk in darkness, a joy to the sorrowful, a sea for the thirsty, a haven for the distressed, an upholder and defender of the victim of oppression... are appreciative.
• Being a home for the stranger, a balm to the suffering, a tower of strength for the fugitive... all appreciative.
• Being eyes to the blind, and a guiding light unto the feet of the erring.... appreciative.
• A breath of life to the body of humankind, an ensign of the hosts of justice, a luminary above the horizon of virtue, a dew to the soil of the human heart... Appreciation in practice.

TAG Leadership

Thankfulness and Appreciation, duly noted, are grounded in a spirit of Gratitude. Expressing our Thankfulness in words and practicing our Appreciation in action... both find foundation in a sincere spirit of Gratitude.

Such forges a noble leadership that leads, inspires, educates and unites. Gratitude is cultivated, especially through Perceptiveness, Empathy and Humility, I do indeed suggest.

Finding time for such daily practice to build our own sincere Gratitude... helps ground and fortify our practice of Thankfulness in words and Appreciation in deeds. Let these inhabit our lives... thusly. Consider such and Aim High.

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving.

Justice, Peace and Unity...

Barry Lewis Green, aka The Unity Guy with Epic Engage

Here are some other offerings to possibly consider...

• Humanity Forward
• The Humanity Map
• Explore your Code of Character
• The Stoic Road
• TUGtv Conversations; engaging dialogue around ideas that matter.
• A Future for Us All
• The Global Goals
• Hope
• Atlas Falls