Gift-Giving Secrets Nobody Talks About

Everyone has, at one point or the other, given or received a gift at least once in their lifetime. For some, gift-giving has become a habit, while others make such gestures occasionally.  But as much as we try to portray ourselves as cheerful givers, only a few of us do it right and for the right reasons. In a bit, you’ll learn some gift-giving secrets that no one talks about.

First, our individual lives are a gift, just like the famous quote, “Your life is a gift to the world, make it worthwhile.”

The air that we all breathe, the rain, the sunshine, the stars, galaxy, mineral resources, the sun, and every fantastic thing that we have come to admire and almost can’t do without are gifts from Mother Nature to us all.

You may not have paid attention to it, but every one of us gives and receives a gift every day.

Gifts are beyond the material things that we give. They make others feel loved and cared for. 

When you genuinely compliment people for their looks, outfits, efforts, and overall ability or personality, you do not only put a smile on their face. You also make them feel better about themselves.

Giving is not only an act of love. It is a sign that you care about others. 

What Is Gift-Giving?

A gift or present is any item given to another person without an expectation of anything in return.

Gift-giving is one of the things that differentiate humans from barbarians.

Gift-giving, as mentioned earlier, is a demonstration of love, feelings, and gratitude. We invest in our relationships by giving gifts to one another. It is a way to celebrate love, friendship, achievements, and life in general.

Aside from material gifts, giving is an expression of your personality. You can share your ideas, your thoughts, your energy and strength, your loyalty, your time, your support, your love, and care.

You give to demonstrate your generosity and personality as a human being.

Buying and giving gifts with your money is an opportunity to express yourself and show people around you that you care about them and that they are essential to you. 

A gift item may seem small, but it allows us to be different. It is more than just an activity or a check off your Christmas wish list.

You can give donations to charity or social groups in your communities. You can also give money, groceries, clothes, shoes, and several other things to someone in need. Although Christmas is a time to show our friends and families that we care about, gift-giving shouldn’t be limited to the long Christmas wish list alone.

Embracing gift-giving as a lifestyle is a core of giving. Take time to reflect on this, “If gift-giving is a way of showing love and care, why don’t we do it every day?

Tips on Genuine Gift-Giving

Since gift-giving is more of an experience, you should give gifts when you understand what recipients need or want. That helps you put a genuine and sincere smile on their face. 

Always ensure that your gift comes from a heart of love and affection and not out of compulsion or obligation.

A genuine gift or present should give both the giver and the recipient a great sense of satisfaction and fulfillment.

 Why We Give Gifts

  • As an expression of care, love, and affection
  • As an expression of friendship
  • As a token of  appreciation to others
  • As an expression of generosity
  • As a donation to charity
  • As compensation or souvenirs
  • As a custom (in some places or culture)
  • To celebrate special occasions such as Birthdays, Christmas, Weddings, Anniversaries, Graduations, and other special events worth celebrating.

What Cannot Be Considered as Gift-Giving?

Gift-giving is a voluntary action and a show of affection. It should not be borne from compulsion.

For example, when people pay their kids’ tuitions, they don’t consider it a gift but an obligation. 

Although you don’t get compensated in return when you perform family or societal obligations, it doesn’t make it count as a gift. 

Your gift must be from a place of love, compassion, and appreciation of others.

Gifts presented with underlying sentiments and motives are not gifts. They hardly provide any sense of satisfaction or fulfillment to the giver; neither do they have lasting effects on the receiver. 

Things to Consider Before buying and giving a Gift

Giving gifts and presents is a lovely gesture. However, it is essential to understand some basic gift-giving etiquette before embarking on the journey. It is equally important to know and understand the recipients and the purpose of the gift.

Here are some key things to consider. 

1.     Know the Recipient

Knowing the recipient is just as important as the gift you want to get for them. It helps to avoid a deadweight loss situation.

Try to know and understand their values, interests, sentiments, religious or cultural beliefs. Find out the things they love or fancy, have an idea of their needs, or what they want. That will give you a vital clue as to what they will consider impressive when presenting it as a gift to them.

A young individual would most likely appreciate a tech gift better than an adult or an older person. So consider the age of the person too when gifting them a present. 

2.     The occasion for the gift

Suppose you have a friend, family, or colleague who is having their wedding over the weekend. It wouldn’t be insensitive to gift the bride jewelry, an essential home appliance, or anything that would be useful in their new home. Your gift should align with the occasion for which you are giving it. 

3.     Purpose of the Gift

It would help if you also considered the purpose of your gift before buying one. If you want to help a friend in need, you should buy a gift that serves that exact purpose.

Another friend who has no real need may appreciate a casual gift as an expression of friendship. Let’s say; a picture frame (with both of you, reminding him of a particular memory or experience). 

4.     Your Relationship with the Person

Your retiring boss would most likely appreciate a flower, framed picture of him, complimentary card, and some other formal gift than a close pal.

So you should always consider your relationship with the recipient before getting them gifts.

5.     Message

Sometimes, gifts have an underlying message behind them. Let your gift be the voice that amplifies the message you can’t pass with spoken words.

If you are buying a congratulatory gift, a celebration gift, a gift of gratitude, consider gifts that speak those quiet words.

Characteristics of a Perfect Gift

Although, people often say there’s no recipe for a perfect gift. As accurate as this may be, it doesn’t negate that you can give an exceptional gift that the recipient perceives as “perfect.”

Here are some clues to create the perfect gift-giving experience.

  • A wow or impressive gift must be to please the receiver solely.
  • A perfect gift must be valuable to its recipient.
  • A perfect or unique gift must be surprising.
  • A gift must address the desire of the recipient.
  • A gift must be appropriate for the receiver.
  • A gift must come as a sacrifice from the giver.
  • A unique gift must be wrapped and adequately packaged.

In general, the gifts and presents we give others speak volumes about our personalities and how much we value the receiver.

It would help if you were wary of your motives and the message you pass across to people with your gifts.

Your gift should be a token of love, affection, care, reward, and genuine expression of gratitude to the people that makes our world go round.

If you are an entrepreneur, you can give your most loyal customers gifts as a form of gratitude for their continuous patronage.

Doing this will make them feel special and loved, which will, in turn, make them more committed to your brand. They can even refer their friends, families, and colleagues to your business. 

When giving gifts to others, you see the joy in their faces. In turn, you feel good about yourself. Giving to others changes the way we see them and life generally. It is a psychological effect known as “The Theory of Cognitive Dissonance” or “The Benjamin Franklin Effect.”

This theory states that we must understand and be representatives of our beliefs and actions. Since you are likely to commend yourself for being friendly and generous, your brain also helps to conclude that whoever is on the receiving end of your good gesture merits it.

Giving a gift does not only makes you feel good; it can also lead to success.

You should stop to think, if Mother Nature could be this generous to us, then there must be more to giving gifts than we presently understand.

Giving a gift is what makes our world go round. It is an act that predates our existence and would continue long after we’re gone.

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