When was the last time you can honestly say you told anyone in your life just how much you appreciate them. Employees, employers, co-workers, friends, and members of our families are all extremely important components in our lives. Why then to we insist on constantly focusing on those things that we feel are wrong with them?

This practice does little for us, not to mention what it does for them. We perpetuate, and fuel a cycle of negativity, that can only result in unhappiness. By incorporating gratitude and appreciation for those around us, in all aspects of life, our attitudes become more positive immediately.

I am certainly not suggesting that we should simply look past areas, which could be improved. But, by being grateful for the positive aspects of those close to us, and sometimes not so close to us, these changes are more attainable. Human beings are creatures who thrive when they feel loved and valued. Yet, many of us are so reserved in offering, or are unaware of how to offer our gratitude.

I am the first to point out my own shortcoming in this department. Cynical to a fault, I find it very easy to offer criticism and extremely difficult to express gratitude. (Obviously, something Im working on.) If this is true for you too, do everything in your power to acknowledge such, and work on becoming better. Again, I am not suggesting that criticism be eliminated across the board. A simple fact; some people need to change what they do, and how they do it! For now, lets resign ourselves to exist, for a while, executing one of my least favorite sayings: Thats not my job. There, dont you feel better already?

At a Rotary Club International meeting last week, a gentleman read a prayer at the beginning that talked about finally affecting changes in others after first making positive changes in himself. Genius! Gratitude is a very effective place to start.

Over the course of the next week, make a concerted effort to tell the ten most important people in your life how much you appreciate them. Build on that by adding a few more people each day. Before you know it, you will have changed a behavioral habit; this new habit will gain favorable results quickly.

It is much more difficult for those important to you to let you down when they know how important they are to you. If you dont believe me, try it once. Pick anyone you know who you truly appreciate and tell them so; then shut up. No buts interjected at the end. If the very next thing they do is not a favorable action, please write to me and tell me about it. Thats mike@zoochthepooch.com.

When you say to someone ____________ you, how will you fill in the blank?