Definitions: Acknowledgments

Acknowledgment: An acknowledgment (a.k.a. ack) is any verbal, non verbal, psychic, or physical communication with self, or another, that affirms a result. i.e. I want you to know that I, or you, or we, produced a result. An ack is often a judgement or an evaluation. Some examples: good, not good, ("that didn't feel good," or "that felt good,"),  late, ("I got that I'm late," or "You're late.")

Some examples of acknowledgments—

An acknowledgment can be conscious or unconscious. One can be unaware that they are acknowledging themselves or another non verbally (such as shunning or slowly destroying one's self). i.e.  Non verbal irresponsible blaming-make-wrong of ones parents, [I'll show you, I'll fail in life and relationships; I refuse to succeed, I don't want you to think you did good job]. The mind will kill itself to be right and to make another wrong

I did well, or poorly. You did well, or poorly. That doesn't feel good. I feel bad, good, etc. You look like you feel....  I want to be acknowledged for doing...., or, ...for not doing... I get that I did that. etc. I lied to you. I cheated on.... I get that I was abusive.

I acknowledge* that I do not recall ever applying myself in high school, I don't recall studying something because I wanted to learn more about it. I acknowledge that I approached studying with the idea in mind to do as little as possible. I never experienced being comfortable with anyone during high school, I left the community without saying goodbye to anyone.

Non verbal: There's something that's bothering me about our relationship and so I avoid you as much as possible. Or, I'm uncomfortable or embarrassed in your presence and I don't know how to fix it. I admire you and I'm embarrassed to tell you verbally so I'm stuck.

With self: As in, mistreating ones body, by eating, smoking, drinking, cutting, etc.. In other words, if I damage myself enough it might get someone's attention (this is referred to as a setup).

* The words, "I acknowledge" are not necessary however they do create a context for the listener; it sometimes reminds them to put on their "getting it" cap and to do nothing (if possible) with what follows. "If possible" meaning, that for some it's simply not possible to just "get" (be with)  another's communication. However, because I have played the communication game for a long time I'm quite skilled at getting stuff. That is to say, if you shared with me that you ran over someone I would reply, "Thanks, I got that. Anything else about that?" Not, "You what? (judgment). Boy that was stupid! (make wrong). Did you call the police? (condescension/helping)"