Would you like to nourish the seeds of change to create a spectacular life? Once you have a dream you will need to nourish it for it to grow.  Start looking for the seeds of your dream in what you already have. These are the seeds of change. Then look for a simple and powerful form of nourishment to help them grow.  For me, the most powerful form of nourishment are validations. Validations are an expression of gratitude in the form of appreciation. When you are grateful and express your appreciation, you are validating the life force that is needed for growth.

Being grateful is much more than just listing what you liked during the day, or remembering to say a ritual “Thank You.” When we do this, gratitude can become just another another job.  Gratitude is much more empowering when you see it as your choice to validate life. Gratitude recognizes that there exists a force for life that can transform the challenges that come your way.  You put gratitude into practice when you notice this gift of life and express your appreciation to yourself and others.

You can cultivate gratitude by taking a moment to reflect on some of the highlights of your life. For example, it could be the birth of a child, completing a race, or accomplishing a goal by working with a team. Go with the feeling of life’s power to overcome challenges, put yourself in the flow. Savor it. You also experience it when your are absorbed, doing what you really like to do, and notice the gifts of others.  You may experience this most of the time. Notice this life force during the day.

This is easy to do. You can reflect on it in the car on the way to work, at night before going to sleep, in the morning when you are putting on your socks, or in the evening when you are appreciating the positive moments of the day. You may want to write them down. It will give you more enthusiasm for life. Studies have shown that people who are grateful are more optimistic, come closer to reaching their goals, exercise more, and have high levels of vitality and well being.

Most important is expressing your gratitude and appreciation to others. It works well as a focus for promoting all of your relationships.  Expressions of appreciation are most effective when they are authentic, that is, from the heart, consistent, and specific.  For example, you can validate a child by saying, "What I appreciate about you today is . . ."  The more specific the better.

Studies show that when parents express love, optimism, and a zest for life, their children become happier.  When partners express appreciation to their mates, it builds their relationships.  When managers walk around and acknowledge their workers, productivity is enhanced.  When customers are acknowledged for their purchases, they are more likely to purchase again.  All in all, validations can help grow a spectacular life in many ways.  Now, isn’t that attractive?