Posted on March 2, 2011 by Terry Sidford

At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.

-Albert Schweitzer

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One of the easiest yet most powerful tools we all possess is the ability to acknowledge others. Why, then, do most of us forget to do it or not do it very well?

Maybe the fact is we don’t realize what an amazing impact it can make on both the giver and the receiver.

It all starts with the ability to acknowledge our own accomplishments, instead of focusing on what we haven’t accomplished or still need to accomplish.

Here’s a challenge for you right now…

Take a moment and write down ten amazing things you have accomplished. Then write down what you notice about the impact you make on the lives of others.

After receiving that amazing boost in energy for acknowledging yourself, start to look at people around you and consider what you would like to acknowledge about them.

Start with family, then extend to friends and associates, and finally to strangers and feel the magic begin!

The key is to be 100% authentic in your acknowledgements. Start with simple things like “you have a beautiful smile” and then onto  “you have an amazing essence about you and I light up being around you”. Those are just a few hints to get you started.

Here are some other key elements to authentic acknowledgements:

1. Be in present time without distractions.
2. Have full eye contact.
3. Continue eye contact after the acknowledgment to make sure they really got it.
4. Don’t add anything but the acknowledgment.
5. Make it simple and to the point.
6. Make sure it comes from a place of genuine caring and admiration for the other person.
7. Be empathetic and compassionate.

Relationships

When any relationship is strained, the first step to get back into communication is to acknowledge the person. Here is a wonderful process that you can use with your partner or children.

• Start out by obtaining permission to do this process with the other person.
• Take 10-15 minutes each to tell one another what is not working for you in the relationship. The receiver of this communication simply acknowledges they got the communication.
• Take 10-15 minutes each to tell the other person what you want to acknowledge them for, i.e. “I want to acknowledge you for….”  Again, the receiver of this communication simply acknowledges they got the communication.

You will be amazed how powerful this is and how it brings back the love and communication between two people who were not in good communication.

Acknowledge Others

Find 10 people this week to acknowledge with genuine compassion and look for the miracles that will be created in them and within you.

Please share your thoughts.

With love and admiration,