How To Choose The Most Meaningful Gift

3 Aug 2021

Gift giving is simultaneously incredibly easy but also surprisingly difficult.

It is easy because contrary to popular belief, we prefer to give presents than receive them, because personalised gifts are a message to someone we care about that shows we care.

However, choosing a gift can be astonishingly difficult at times, especially if someone is difficult to buy for, seems to have everything or you just do not want to let them down.

Whilst everyone is unique and every occasion is different from the next, there are five questions you can ask yourself which will help you choose the best gift.

The Gift Make Them Feel Understood?

Feeling seen is a basic need of ours. We want people to know we exist and we want others to understand at least some parts of what makes us tick.

A thoughtful gift shows that you know what means the most to them, what their deepest desires are and what will make their day better, without ever directly answering the questions.

Is The Story Behind The Gift?

There are two ways to consider storytelling using a gift; providing something that reminds them of their story and happy memories of their past, or a story that connects the two of you.

It can be something as simple as giving a gift that reflects a common interest or can be a present that integrates a memento of a time you shared.

The Gift Connect?

Somewhat related to the story behind a gift, think about whether a gift creates or strengthens a connection between the two of you.

This is part of the reason why friendship bracelets and lockets are so popular; they are a matching pair of items that emphasise a connection.

Give A Gift?

Context is everything, and the occasion in question can help you choose an appropriate gift.

A birthday is about personal celebration so it is a time to give gifts that are personal to an individual, whilst a bereavement is about providing comfort and care.

The Gift Give More?

A final consideration is whether a gift would do more than make someone happy, and instead furthers an ambition they have.

These can be incredibly meaningful as it shows how understood someone is.

An example of this is for someone who wants to do a couch-to-5k run is to buy a pair of running shoes, or lessons in a hobby they always wanted to do.

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