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Most of this document is a direct excerpt from The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership.

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COMMITMENT SEVEN

Generating Appreciation

Above the Line: I commit to living in appreciation, fully opening to both receiving and giving appreciation.

Below the Line: I commit to feeling entitled to “what’s mine,” resenting when it’s not acknowledged in the way I want.

Keys

• Entitlement has come to mean a belief that a person deserves a particular reward or benefit.
• Entitlement starts with a preference (e.g. a bonus, etc.—which is fine). The problem arises when we become attached to the outcome—something we believe should happen.

2 Components of Appreciation

• Sensitive Awareness: simply paying attention; the capacity to make fine distinctions (noticing nuances).
• An Increase in Value: when something appreciates it increases in value. Living with intention to make your relations, experiences, etc. become more valuable.

2 Branches of Appreciation

• Fully Receiving Appreciation: Knowing that your own ability to appreciate starts with their self-appreciation and receptivity to others’ attention.
• Deflecting Appreciation: Using, often unconsciously, internal and external strategies to refuse appreciation because of recurring fears about receiving appreciation.

Strategies

• Inner Critic Interception: Dismissing the appreciation because the inner critic.
• The Hand-Off: “Paul did all the hard work.”
• The Downgrade: Comparing oneself to an ideal.