Gratitude v. Appreciation

Is there any difference between gratitude and appreciation?

I think there is. And I think it’s subtle and important.

To me, gratitude is what I experience when I'm hoping for something, maybe even desperate for it, and when it finally comes into my life, I’m so grateful. Or when I’ve decided something is a problem in my life, and when it’s gone, I’m so grateful to be rid of it. Or when I'm afraid of something going wrong, fearful that it might happen, and when it doesn’t, I feel grateful.

With gratitude, there’s usually a level of fear or scarcity involved:

• I’m not okay without such-n-such. Oh thank God, I got it! I’m so grateful!

• I’m not okay with such-n-such. Oh thank God, it’s gone! I’m so grateful!I’m afraid that such-n-such will happen, and that will be wrong/bad/disasterous. Oh thank God, it didn’t happen! I’m so grateful!

Appreciation, in my experience, is subtle and more closely aligned with Truth. It’s how I feel when I know I'm fine just as I am and, in that energy of satisfaction, I appreciate things just as they are. And in that energy of satisfaction, I become aware of even more good in my life and I appreciate that too.

• No desperation.

• No lack or scarcity.

• No fear.

Just a belief that all is well as it is, life is good, and I am fine. And..oh look! I just noticed something else even more lovely to appreciate.

Grateful is where I land when I’m missing something and finally get it.

Appreciation is where I am when I sit still, widen my vision, and see how wonderful Life is, as it is, right now.