Emotion: Appreciation

When you want to write the emotion appreciation, it's important to "show" the emotion your character is experiencing through their physical reactions and dialogue, rather than "tell" it. In this article we provide you with inspiration so you can avoid showing instead of telling and immerse your readers in your story.

Appreciation is the act of recognizing the value, worth, or quality of something or someone. It involves feeling grateful, thankful, or admiring towards someone or something for what they have done or for their intrinsic qualities. Appreciation can be directed towards a tangible object, an experience, an achievement, a skill, or towards a person's character, actions, or contribution. It can also be expressed through words, gestures, or actions that convey gratitude, admiration, or recognition. In writing, appreciation can be used to deepen character relationships, convey gratitude or admiration, or to reveal a character's values and priorities.

Different Types of Appreciation

Here are some different types of appreciation:

• Gratitude
• Recognition
• Thankfulness
• Admiration
• Respect
• Acknowledgment
• Esteem
• Value
• Affection

Situations Associated with Appreciation

Here are some situations where a character might experience the emotion of appreciation:

• Receiving recognition or praise for their work or actions.
• Seeing someone they care about achieve a personal goal or milestone.
• Realizing how fortunate they are compared to others who have less.
• Being shown kindness or generosity by someone else.
• Witnessing an act of selflessness or heroism.
• Reflecting on past experiences and feeling grateful for what they learned or gained.
• Feeling a sense of accomplishment or pride in themselves or others.
• Being surprised or touched by a thoughtful gesture or gift.

Physical Reactions to Appreciation

Here are some physical reactions a character experiencing appreciation might have:

• Smiling
• Relaxation
• Eye contact
• Open body language
• Nodding or affirmative gestures
• Verbal expressions of gratitude, such as "thank you"
• Positive tone of voice
• Willingness to reciprocate favors or kindness
• Generosity or gift-giving
• Positive feedback or compliments
• Increased focus on the present moment

Thoughts Associated with Appreciation

Here are some thoughts a character experiencing appreciation might have:

• I am so grateful for this moment.
• I feel blessed to have this opportunity.
• I am thankful for the people in my life who have helped me get here.
• I am in awe of the beauty of this place.
• I never realized how much I loved this until now.
• I am so glad to be alive and experiencing this.
• I feel so lucky to have this in my life.
• I appreciate the little things more than ever.
• I am overwhelmed with gratitude.

Atmosphere of Appreciation

Here are some ways that you might reflect the emotion of appreciation in the atmosphere of your scene:

• Choose a setting that reflects the beauty of nature, such as a park or a beach, and describe it in detail through the character's eyes.
• Use sensory details to create a warm and inviting atmosphere, such as the smell of freshly baked bread or the sound of a crackling fireplace.
• Depict characters engaging in acts of kindness towards one another, such as sharing a meal or offering a comforting hug.
• Show characters expressing gratitude for the people and things in their lives, either through dialogue or internal thoughts.
• Use metaphors or similes to convey the feeling of appreciation, such as comparing a sunset to a painting or a friend's smile to a ray of sunshine.

Verbs Associated with Appreciation

Here are some verbs commonly associated with the emotion of appreciation:

• Admire
• Acknowledge
• Applaud
• Cherish
• Commend
• Esteem
• Honor
• Recognize
• Respect
• Treasure
• Value

Emotions Before Appreciation

Here are some emotions that may come before a character experiences appreciation:

• Confusion
• Disappointment
• Frustration
• Annoyance
• Skepticism
• Cynicism
• Indifference
• Bitterness
• Resentment
• Envy
• Jealousy
• Hatred
• Hostility
• Disgust

Emotions After Appreciation

Here are some emotions that may come after a character experiences appreciation:

• Gratitude
• Affection
• Admiration
• Thankfulness
• Respect
• Reverence
• Esteem
• Fondness
• Praise

Telling Appreciation Examples to Avoid

Here are some examples of telling the emotion appreciation in a sentence. You should avoid things like this:

• She appreciated the gesture.
• He felt appreciation for their hard work.
• The gift was received with appreciation.
• She expressed her appreciation for their help.
• He knew he should show appreciation for her efforts.
• The kind words were met with appreciation.
• She had a deep appreciation for the beauty of nature.
• He couldn't help but feel appreciation for the delicious meal.
• The team showed their appreciation for their coach's dedication.

Practical Examples of Showing Appreciation

Here are some examples of showing appreciation in a sentence:

• The handwritten note from her friend brought a smile to her face and made her feel grateful.
• As she took a bite of the cake, she couldn't help but express her appreciation for the baker's skill.
• His mentor's advice had been invaluable, and he was eager to show his appreciation by following through on their suggestions.
• The singer's heartfelt performance brought tears to the audience's eyes and a thunderous round of applause as a show of appreciation.

Exercises for Showing Appreciation

Here are some writing exercises to practice showing appreciation:

• Write a scene where your character receives unexpected praise or recognition. How do they react and respond to this appreciation?
• Write a letter from your character to someone they appreciate, expressing their gratitude and admiration.
• Create a list of things your character appreciates in their life or in others. Use this list to guide their actions and thoughts throughout your story.
• Write a scene where your character witnesses an act of kindness or generosity. How does this affect their appreciation for the person or people involved?
• Write a scene where your character reflects on a past experience or relationship that they now appreciate more fully.
• Create a dialogue between your character and someone they appreciate. What do they say to each other? How does this conversation deepen their appreciation for one another?
• Write a scene where your character is faced with a difficult situation and someone helps them out. How does this experience increase their appreciation for that person or for the good in humanity in general?

Want more help with showing emotion instead of telling? You find more help in our full set of emotions.