How to Master the Art of Mindful Gifting

By Sophia Smith

Let’s get one thing out of the way right now – the price tag doesn’t matter. You don’t have to buy anyone an expensive gift to express love, and it really is the thought that counts. However, this doesn’t mean that you should buy your boo a cheap mug at the airport gift store and call it a day. While mindful giving certainly isn’t focused on the price, it does involve a lot of careful thought and consideration. There’s a certain art to it.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that gift giving is an unattainable skill. It’s something you can easily learn if you know what to do, and this is where we can jump in and help. If you want to become a mindful gift-giver who always gets it right and knows how to make someone’s face light up with joy when they receive something, here’s what you need to do.

Nurture yourself first

It may sound like very odd advice, but hear us out. There’s more to gift giving than simply handing something over to your favorite person. It’s a beautiful process, a moment where connection is deepened and a memory is made. It requires you to be fully focused on the person who’s receiving the gift.

In order to really dedicate yourself to your loved one, you must take care of your own needs first. So, instead of allowing yourself to be tired and cranky, take some time to cook a good meal, to get enough sleep, and to take a hot, relaxing bath. Come to the event in a good mood, and let the positive energy fill the moment. Your loved one will feel it and it will lift their spirits and make them more eager to receive their gift.

Listen carefully

Gift giving can start months before the actual moment you give something away. It requires you to simply be a good listener and to pay attention – a skill that will surely benefit you even beyond this situation. Don’t just be focus on your loved on when you’re giving them a gift. Try to be fully present and engaged whenever you’re together, and listen for subtle hints of what they like or what they might need.

That way, when the time comes, you’ll know exactly what to get.

Seduce them with the gift

Consider what kind of a person your loved one is and how they want to see themselves. If you’re gifting something to a man, show him just how much you appreciate his masculine energy. Something like a stylish money clip for men or a sleek, elegant tie will show him you like his style, that you like how he carries himself. There’s an alluring power there, in showing someone you admire their masculinity.

The same goes for gifts aimed at women. If you’re choosing something for your lady, gift her something that will accentuate her feminine power. A bottle of perfume, a pair of earrings that bring out her eyes, a silky scarf that will feel soft against her skin.

Consider everything about the gift you’re giving – how it looks, how it feels, how the person might use it. Show them you want to connect, on a deeper level.

Consider non-material gifts

Mindfulness can come in many forms, and there are few things better than gifting someone an experience rather than an object. While this means that you can treat your loved one to a trip somewhere nice, it doesn’t actually have to involve anything that expensive.

Preparing them dinner, giving them a long, relaxing massage, taking them out on a picnic and serving them delicious food – all of these things are relatively inexpensive and yet they are immensely thoughtful. You’re not just giving someone an object, you’re giving them your time and attention, and you’re showing them you want to experience things together and make memories.

Create a tradition around the gift

A mindful gift can strengthen any bond, and one way to take that a step further and truly establish a happy relationship that will last a long time is to establish a whole tradition around gift exchange. Perhaps you always go to the same restaurant, or maybe you always travel away somewhere, or maybe your gifts always have a specific theme to them – whatever it is, relying on tradition year after year will make it clear that this is the person you plan to stick around with.

You don’t have to be a rich person to be a mindful gift-giver. You just need to commit yourself to the moment: look your loved one in the eyes, tell them kind words of love, and let them see your emotions as you exchange the gift. Connect on a more spiritual level and share your intimacy with joy. They’re bound to feel your love and will respond in kind.

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