Finding the perfect gift at times is such a daunting task. All lot of questions go through your mind, Is it too expensive? Is it too cheap? Would they like it? Is it the right colour? Just to mention a few.
The beauty of giving is in its simplicity. The idea that essence or value must be placed on it takes away joy. The giver, out of your volition, expects the recipient to appreciate what you’re giving them, no matter what.
How Do You Choose The Perfect Gift?
To choose the perfect gift, you need to ask yourself some questions. These questions are important in mapping out your course of action. Now, I wouldn’t say it’s a sure-fire way to surprise your loved one, but 95% of the time, you won’t get it wrong
1. What do they spend their time on?
This might sound a bit strange, but what a person spends their time on says a lot about them. If it’s someone dedicated to their work, you can find them something that makes their work easier; some accessories that complement their outfit, a special lunch sent to their place of work, or a surprise lunch/dinner date.
2. What are their interests?
Yes! Everybody has interests, no matter how busy we get. Is your lover a voracious reader? Buy an Amazon Kindle, an android tablet or an iPad. Loves cooking? Pay for a cooking class, get ingredients for that special food they make occasionally. Loves PlayStation or Xbox? Buy games. Loves fashion? Go to fashion sites and choose something beautiful.
3. How close are you?
Some gifts are more personal than others. I wouldn’t expect you to buy your boss a set of underwear, while it might seem like an innocuous act of kindness, it sure can backfire spectacularly. You don’t want to send the wrong message to people. Assess your level of closeness when making up your mind about gifting. A good handbag wouldn’t be a bad idea for your female boss while a tie, lapel pin, or shoes would go a long way for a male boss.
These are just a few things you should have in mind while considering giving to someone special to you.
Managing Your Expectations
You need to remember that people will not always appreciate your effort the way you expect, no matter how much you try. To this end, it is important to bear in mind that in whatever you give will not elicit the same reaction with everybody. There are different types of reaction to gifting people, there would be different responses. I have highlighted a couple of responses you should expect from them.
1. Disdain:
These kinds of people are just naturally sad people, you can hardly impress them. You shouldn’t feel bad about going all the way for them because there’s a valuable lesson to learn here – you have a good heart. Look beyond the disappointment because there are plenty more people who would value your gift.
2. Indifference:
There are many reasons people express indifference when they receive something from you. It might be emotional. People are passing through a lot and your gift might just be the right thing at a wrong time. Most of the time, they’ll come back later to thank you profusely. Another thing is the perceived value. When someone feels like what you gave them doesn’t measure up (in value or quality), they tend to be less enthusiastic about it. They just toss it somewhere or give it out almost immediately.
3. Surprise
This is the most pleasant of them all because it brings you both happiness. Nothing beats watching the face of someone light up while you give them something you’ve worked hard to procure or make. This fosters relationship and helps build lasting bonds.
Remember, gifting should be out of your free will. Don’t feel compelled to do something because there is no joy in that. And even if they don’t appreciate it, what matters most is that you’ve tried and that, my friend, makes you a better person than them.
