Appreciation: the more you give, the more you are likely to receive 

“You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes,  
well, you might find, you get what you need.”  

The Rolling Stones have the right idea. If you try, you might get what you need. If you appreciate, you too will be appreciated. 

Does it work? 

It works! Dr. Keely Sikes Rollings has seen it in her clinical psychology practice with couples and in her own 30-year relationship. When we show appreciation, our partner is more likely to reciprocate.  

So, don’t be shy – be the first one in your partnership to start piling on the appreciation and see what happens. You might be pleasantly surprised. 

Potential roadblocks 

You might feel hesitant to be the first to start this appreciation exchange. Perhaps you’re not feeling appreciated by your partner. Why should you have to go first? 

Because you can model appreciation for your partner. If you can take the first big step and crank up the volume of your appreciation, you’re more likely to get it back–this is the art of appreciation reciprocation. 

The bottom line 

Showing appreciation makes your partner feel cherished, honored, treasured, and special. When you let your partner know you appreciate them, you are telling them how much they mean to you.  

And you’ll get it back, too. We too want to feel cherished, honored, treasured, and special. 

Start today 

Lead by example. Show some appreciation and see if you can get that appreciation reciprocation chain up and running….“if you try sometimes, well, you just might find, you get what you need.”