OCCASIONS like Christmas and birthdays can bring on anxiety, especially when we face financial pressure.
We want to express our love to those close to us but sometimes our bank account does not allow us to meet the value we would like to spend.
Searching for the perfect gift can feel like a puzzle with only one right answer.
We need to remind ourselves that the real reason for giving a gift is to show we care about someone.
It takes the focus off the cost, prestige, or perceived specialness of the gift and puts it back on what really matters: the receiver.
A good gift is one that makes the recipient feel cared for, loved, or appreciated.
One thing great gifts can do is affirm people’s identities, reminding them of something they do well or aspire to.
What do they do well? Can you give something that honours this quality?
For example if they are someone who cares for everyone else, think about a gift that would care for them. What do they want to learn? Buy a book on the subject. What do they want to make more space for in life?
Thoughtful gifts communicate to the person that they are truly seen and known by you.
If you have someone in your life who has made you feel bad about a gift you’ve given, you may find gift giving feels like an impossible quest to please.
In this situation, it’s important to remember that while the goal is to make the recipient feel cared for, you can’t control how they receive it.
All you can do is have thoughtful intentions.
When it comes to gift giving, it really is true that ‘it’s the thought that counts’…. not the price!
