Was soll ich denn schenken?

What should I give as a gift?

The secret of happiness lies not in possession, but in giving. Those who make others happy become happy.

( André Gide)

What does giving actually mean?

The process of giving is a special way of showing affection for others or for oneself. Giving gifts to others or to oneself can be motivated by different intentions and experienced ambiguously by both the giver and the recipient. The French philosophers Emmanuel Levinas and Jacques Derrida interpreted the term présent in relation to gifts as being present and present at the moment of giving.

Choosing the right gift isn't easy.
When was the last time you consciously gave a small gift or a smile? Christmas is coming soon, and perhaps you're thinking about giving something special. What do you consider when doing this? Is it important to you to identify the other person's needs, or even to awaken them? Do you want to make the recipient happy? Do you want the person you've chosen to receive your gift to be delighted with it?
Giving gifts can therefore be a more or less conscious process for you. What do you want to say to the recipient with your gift? What does it mean to you? Do you have a specific intention behind giving the gift, or is your gift selfless and free of any particular expectations? What is your first thought when choosing a gift? How empathetic are you in your approach to the other person?

Why does giving gifts make me happy?

Do you know that feeling? Just choosing and preparing Christmas presents, especially those that you've secretly handcrafted, makes you happy. Doesn't the thought of giving a gift to a loved one cheer you up and motivate you? Do you also imagine how your partner, children, parents, neighbors, friends, or work colleagues will be delighted with your gift? Why is that?

Giving makes you happy.
An international team of researchers from the University of Lübeck investigated the experience that not only you, as the giver, but also the recipient becomes happy when giving and even just thinking about it, with their generosity experiment . They discovered that generous actions, such as giving and donating, activate human brain regions that trigger feelings of happiness. Therefore, you are giving yourself a gift when you choose generous behaviors.

According to the findings of neurobiologist Gerald Hüther, infants already perceive two fundamental abilities in the womb. They experience growth in harmony with their mother and a fundamentally trusting connection with her. These experiences are laid down as the very first networks in the baby's brain. Thus, your brain networks are shaped in such a way that you continually seek out these experiences and eagerly desire to realize them.

Can I give whatever I want?

It's actually your basic need to enjoy giving and to be generous. In doing so, you more or less consciously fulfill a fundamentally trusting desire for connection. Consequently, your "purposeless" gift, which comes from the heart, is the most beautiful of all. Gifts that fulfill the recipient's wish without any intention, simply in between, or for a special occasion, are particularly "permissible" and bring good luck.

Giving makes you happy.

How do you feel about granting someone else's wish, even if you don't like or want it yourself? Do you find it difficult, or are you still happy to give the gift? Ultimately, when you give a gift, you're not only making the recipient happy, but also yourself. This also increases your own sense of well-being, and you may be much more successful and optimistic in tackling your own tasks that day.

Ideally, it's your desire to show your affection or gratitude to the recipient with your intangible or material gift. In doing so, you're giving good feelings that you can't always buy, but can still express in purchased gifts. And giving is actually fun, after all. So take a look at what you can give the person next to you just for the hell of it. What would they particularly appreciate right now or on the next holiday?

How can I give gifts sustainably?

When considering what to give, you may have also considered the sustainability of your gift. Perhaps the recipient is very environmentally conscious and wanted a sustainable gift. This way, your gift will not only make them happy, it will also protect and strengthen a permanently healthy, abundant earth. Last but not least, it will give you and the recipient the good feeling of being responsible and resource-oriented in caring for future generations.

Beautiful, sustainable gifts from our shinyly.shop

So, what are sustainable gifts? Basically, sustainable gifts not only satisfy needs, but also allow you to consider the earth's resource balance. This also fulfills your basic need for a holistic, humane life and your own inner peace. Perhaps you could make a vegan gift yourself. Simply give the gift of your time, or sign up for a great workshop on your favorite topic with the recipient.

Unwrapped gifts or gifts with our reusable gift fabric and our stunning hemp ribbon make your gift even more valuable. Simply give the lovingly designed Shinyly Christmas gift voucher, which they can choose themselves, and be inspired during your visit to the shinyly.shop. If you're missing a great, sustainable product in our shinyly.shop, just talk to us.

Conclusion

So simply treat yourself to something happy every now and then, or even during special occasions like Christmas. Giving not only makes the recipient happy, but also makes you happy. Sustainable gifts, in particular, revive the earth with all its wonderful diversity and protect you and your loved ones across generations. Who could you give a gift to without reservation right now? Just start and find a new, happy way to give sustainably every day.

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