“When you feel gratitude, often you are looking at a difficulty that you have overcome, but there is still some of that “struggle” vibration present. The state of appreciation is seeing whatever you are looking at through the eyes of Source. . . You could walk down a crowded street with all kinds of things that a lot of other people would find reason to criticize or worry about, and you would not have access to them because your vibration of appreciation is picking out for you things of a different vibrational nature.”  ~Abraham  Excerpted from: Money and the Law of Attraction on August 31, 2008

This week we’re discussing the difference between gratitude and appreciation. Until I read this quote I really thought it was just a matter of semantics. But if you look at the difference from this perspective, there really can be a difference. AND – there is a place for both in your life. One does NOT supplant the other.

If you are grateful for something not so good that happened but you’re wanting to declare it good and be thankful for what you’ve learned from it, this is where the “struggle” vibration comes into play that Abraham is talking about. The “struggle” here is because it wasn’t such a great thing and you’re working to transform it. If you appreciate this “not so good” event, then you’re recognizing it for what it is without assigning good or bad and without trying to change your inner feelings. You just accept whatever it is and think good things. You simply look at it from a different perspective and appreciate that it exists. Gratitude implies thanks and we’re not always thankful for something not so good that happens.

I am grateful (thankful) that I became a doctor. But I appreciate all that has happened to me in the past year – not all of which was good but I appreciate it for all that it taught me.

Think about this for awhile and see if you can discern the difference and see how you feel when you say you’re grateful for something and then when you say you appreciate it.

Terrie