How To Master The Art Of Relationship Gifting-
By Cassidy Nichol-
Around 20% of Americans admit to rarely or never feeling close to people, while 46% say they sometimes or always feel alone. Research shows that for some people a lack of social relationships can increase risk of death by as much as 50%. That’s equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. A close bond in relationships is important for many of us, for our health and wellbeing. But most people simply don’t get enough of it. However, it is possible to create meaningful connections. It just takes practice. One way to deepen relationships is through exchanging thoughtful gifts.
The Power Of Gift Giving
Americans are actually rather generous when it comes to giving gifts. Across all age groups and income levels, 80% say they feel “joyful and generous” about giving gifts. For those who feel that giving gifts may be wasteful, psychologists believe that there are immensely personal and social benefits that accompany the ritual of giving gifts. Gift-giving can even benefit the giver more than the recipient. Gifts have long played an important role in developing loving and healthy relationships. Since ancient times, people have exchanged gifts to show appreciation, boost happiness and strengthen relationships.
However, as people accumulate so much stuff, it can become hard to give something that won’t just become another thing to gather dust at the back of a cupboard. Taking time to choose gifts, using them to proactively invest in relationships and get closer to people can be life-changing. In fact, the gift itself doesn’t particularly matter. It’s the meaning of it. What feelings it triggers are the important thing. The gift acts as a medium to deliver a message to the recipient. A supportive message in a card is a simple, meaningful gift.
Romantic Gift Giving
Giving the right gifts can show just how much you understand and care for the person. This can have a huge impact create deep connections and stronger bonds. But gift-giving can often feel tricky, particularly between romantic partners. Emotions and expectations can often get mixed up. In relationships that are still in their early stages, it can be best to give gifts that are thoughtful yet simple and something that can be shared. Spend your money on a shared and exciting activity you can do together, rather than just one big-ticket item. Relationships that are further on may benefit from bigger investments and expressions of love, but only to the extent that the recipient partner will appreciate them. Otherwise, it could be best to stick to something that is small and thoughtful.
Make The Recipient Feel Understood
This is important: Tuning in to other people’s wants, feelings, and even personality can have a huge impact. Showing empathy is so important in relationships. It’s a wonderful feeling to know that you’ve been listened to, understand and that your joy or pain matters to someone else. In today’s modern society, where much focus is on social media likes and people glued to their phones, the gift of being noticed and understood has become a real commodity. When it comes to offering gifts you should focus your attention on the recipient not on what the gift says about you. Focus on what it creates for the other person. The easiest way to do this is by really thinking about the recipient and paying close attention to their likes, dislikes, behaviors, habits, and even wishlists. In fact, just by paying attention to the person and asking them questions, you are already giving them much more than they are likely to get from other people in their lives.
Gift-giving provides a wonderful excuse to bring more joy and meaning to your relationships. You don’t even need to wait for a special occasion such as a birthday. Give more and above all give better, and happiness will soon follow. But more than anything, most people simply want to feel that they have been seen and heard. Use your next gift to show you’ve been paying attention.
Photo by Kira auf der Heide on Unsplash
