Do you wish to be appreciated for everything you do? Whether it is cooking a special dish (or sometimes even the daily routine dish) or completing an official task diligently, we want to be given credit. The childlike expectations arise. But what if our childlike wish is not fulfilled?

Just relax and keep doing your best

You may be doing your best, but \people may not appreciate you for your efforts. They may have different reasons for not appreciating. You would get upset at this point and may even start doubting your ability just because they didn’t give credit to your efforts. This is one of the difficult parts of expecting people to pat you on the back every time.

Expecting appreciation all the time can pave the way for anxiety

Yes, don’t you second this? When you want people to appreciate you all the time, you will always be in an anxiety mode. With the course of time you start thinking why people are not giving credit to my genuine efforts and this may even lead to the thinking, “I am right and everyone is wrong”. You stop seeing yourself from a critical eye and even begin to justify your actions. This may even lead to depression when not treated at the initial stage itself.

Here comes the role of working for a cause

All the anxieties caused by wanting too much appreciation can be overcome when you understand that working for a cause is the ultimate road to long-term serenity. When you work for a cause, you keep doing your best constantly and always try to become the best version of yourself. You no longer seek the approval of others for each and every thing you do nor do you want them to appreciate you all the time. You understand that appreciation is a secondary (not a primary) trigger of your action and not the element that drives you to work. Whether people appreciate you or not, your morale is boosted because you keep doing your best. If appreciate you, it’s a bonus.

Take-home message

Have you noticed that success (like stated in a popular quote about happiness) is like a butterfly; the more you go behind it, the more it will elude you. However, if you focus on other things, it will come and sit gently on your shoulder. At that time, we should possess the tranquillity to accept the credit that we deserve.