How Showing Appreciation Can Build Self-Esteem In A Family

Healthy families share in common the ability to show appreciation to each other.

By showing appreciation, we are essentially saying that the other person is worthy and has dignity. We declare that we can see the positive qualities of the other person. This message is crucial to emotional wellness because it is a core building block of self-esteem. Thus, strong families help build healthy personalities.

Parents and siblings have a strong influence in molding children to see themselves as either good or bad. When a person’s self-definition is characterized by negative self-esteem, that person has difficulty both in acknowledging positive feedback and in giving it.

Strong families cherish their members, show that they are valued, and build self-esteem in their members that can be carried on to the next generation.

So how can you find more ways to show appreciation in your family?

Try these things:

• Set a goal of giving each family member at least one genuine compliment per day.

• Create a positive home environment by reframing negative statements into positive ones (instead of saying, “You’re always trying to control me,” say “I like how you’re always concerned about my well-being”).

• Write down ten things you like about each member of your family – and then show them your list.

Showing appreciation for others is not always easy - but the effort involved for you can pale beside the level of impact it can have on the other person. Think how good it makes you feel when someone genuinely commends you or notices something you’ve done well!

Sometimes having the unbiased viewpoint of an outsider can be helpful. If you’d like to find more ways to show appreciation in your family, reach out today for the support of a licensed mental health therapist.