Email: Is expecting appreciation from others at work a bad thing? (HK)
It’s natural to desire being acknowledged & appreciated in our work environment. We can experience a sense of satisfaction when we receive praise for a job well done or feel proud that others admire our effort. While admiration is always great, we can also focus on strengthening our own sense of validation & self-worth. By turning our attention inwards we can practice self-compassion. As a result, it boosts our self-confidence so we’re largely unaffected by judgement or criticism.
Why do we even have expectations? We can simply do our part honestly, creatively, responsibly & whole-heartedly. We are each very unique with our special talents, skills & expertise. This self-belief sustains our strength & resilience even in times when we aren’t really showered with adoration or facing tough challenges. We can be our own source of self-acknowledgement & self-love. Then, when others admire us, their appreciation becomes a beautiful bonus, but we’re not solely dependent upon it. “Your most important sale in life is to sell yourself to yourself” – Maxwell Maltz.