Whether piled under the tree, peeking out from a pretty bag or box, or delivered to your front door, there’s nothing quite like the pure joy of receiving a gift meant just for you. And although getting gifts never truly loses its excitement, the pleasure of giving and seeing that joy in someone else becomes the best gift of all.
If you’ve ever been stumped on just what makes a gift great, you’re not alone. That’s why we’re taking a deep dive to discover the why, how, and what behind the art of gift giving to help you become a pro when it comes to picking that perfect present.
Gift giving has been practiced by cultures and communities all over the world since our start. From cavemen to the Greeks and Romans, giving gifts has played an integral part of our interpersonal, familial, and social customs as a way to show respect, love, gratitude and more.
Those deep-rooted traditions of gift giving are still seen today, acting as a common way to:
When it comes to gift giving, the most important thing is that it comes from the heart.
And while there is technically no right or wrong way to give gifts, there are still some time-tested truths that can help ensure your gift is always a hit.
Most people enjoy giving and receiving gifts, but what’s the psychological impact? While gift giving has increasingly become somewhat of a social norm, for centuries people have given gifts for a few main reasons:
Obviously, motivation matters when it comes to giving a gift. Because when you genuinely want to have a positive impact on someone else, you’re more likely to experience a positive outcome in return.
Giving gifts can be beneficial for both the giver and the recipient.
Perhaps one of the most important parts about gift-giving is just how to go about picking that perfect present.
There are plenty of factors at play when choosing a gift, but you at least want to carefully consider:
You’ve done your homework and have considered all factors, but you’re still not sure where to start when it comes to choosing the actual gift?
Here are a few quick thought-starters to help you narrow it down:
If you’re struggling to come up with more specific ideas, reliable product review websites are a great resource for scoping out potential gifts for any occasion.
Sometimes, the perfect gift isn’t something you can wrap.
In lieu of traditional gifts, experiences can make for some of the most enjoyable and memorable gifts of all!
Try something like:
In the end, we all want to surprise and delight the person on the receiving end of our gift, which in turn brings a lasting sense of joy to our own lives.
So before heading out on your next shopping spree, remember that no matter what gift you give, the most important thing is that it comes from the heart. And it’s finding that balance between thoughtfulness and fun that can be the key to gift giving greatness.