The Perfect Gift: A Symphony of Emotions
When it comes to gift giving, it's often hard to know what to get. A trinket for a birthday or a sweater for Christmas seems so impersonal.
What really matters is the thought theperfectgift
behind the gift. Researchers have found that experiential gifts are much more appreciated than material ones. RomanceRomance is an underlying theme in many of the stories we enjoy in literature and film, and it’s a sentiment that’s almost universally hoped-for in relationships. Romance evokes images of exciting adventure and passionate love, as well as chivalrous behavior and other gestures of affection. A romantic gift is one that demonstrates these qualities to the recipient.
Katherine (Katie) is an associate editor at Best Products, where she gathers unique gift ideas, tests buzzy products, and puts too many items in her cart for research purposes. Her work has also been featured on MyDomaine, Byrdie and Oprah Daily. She is a New York City native who loves shopping, pop culture and cooking. In her spare time, she tends to her 50+ plants and is always working on her next DIY home improvement project. Friendship
The perfect gift for your BFF is a gift that is uniquely her, one that captures that tight-knit bond between the two of you. It can be something sentimental like a pair of matching socks, a custom printed coffee mug or even a special item that reminds them of your shared inside jokes or a moment in time. But the best gifts are those that keep on giving, items that are not only useful but will continue to bring you both joy long after their novelty has worn off.
Philosophers often focus on the fact that friendship differs from other relationships characterized by mutual caring, such as family and romantic love, but they don't always offer a clear account of what this difference is. It could be that friendships are merely more intimate versions of relationships such as work colleagues, or that they involve a particular kind of love, but it is more commonly thought that the distinctive intimacy of friendship is a result of the character of the interactions between friends.
A philosopher might try to account for this feature of friendship by arguing that we love our friends for their own sake, and that this is what makes them valuable. But this argument has a problem. It is not possible for us to know whether or not we should care about a person for their own sake, and it can't be carried out in a way that respects our moral conception of value.
For this reason, a philosophical account of the value of friendship must be sensitive to the nature of our motivations, and cannot simply be construed as a form of utilitarian love. Hurka (2006) argues that this is why sophisticated forms of consequentialism are likely to fail when it comes to friendship: they attempt to spell out the mutual caring that characterizes friendship in terms of friendly dispositions divorced from moral reasons, which are not in themselves sufficient to provide a proper basis for caring about a person. Commitment
Commitment is an emotional valence that stabilizes relationships. It involves a personal dedication of resources to the relationship that is stronger than a desire for self-gratification. Personal dedication may be manifested in a commitment to improve the quality of the relationship, invest in it, sacrifice for it and link personal goals with the relationship. It also may include behaviors that indicate a desire for future continuity in the relationship, such as derogating alternatives, acting consistently with a couple identity and demonstrating a desire to continue the relationship indefinitely.
Committed partners often put the relationship ahead of their own interests and prioritize it in their daily lives. They make sacrifices for one another and don't expect those favors to be returned immediately. They also have a long-range view of the relationship and are willing to consider the consequences of their actions for the entire group or organization.
While a sense of belonging can be a key component of commitment, true commitment requires an internal drive that motivates people to persevere in difficult times. Unless the motivation is strong, it will be difficult to achieve long-term success. The key to sustaining motivation is regularly evaluating your goals and understanding the values that drive them. If you're not sure of your motivations, seek out support from friends and family.
Whether you're looking for the perfect gift for your significant other, a friend or a coworker, it's important to choose something that will really mean something to them. This can be a sentimental gift, such as a photo album or jewellery, or it can be an eco-friendly item from a local crafter or international gift supplier.
Being genuinely happy to be at work first thing in the morning, greeting colleagues with a smile and working together as a team are all examples of showing commitment to your job. These are not only good business practices, but they show that you take your responsibilities seriously and treat the company's reputation with high regard. You can also demonstrate your commitment to the company by volunteering for projects and seeking out opportunities to contribute. Love
Love is one of the most complex emotions that exists, and it’s not always easy to pin down. The word can refer to a feeling of affection, attachment, or protectiveness for another person; it can also be used to describe love for non-human animals or for principles and beliefs – like freedom or God. But no matter what you think of when you hear the word “love,” there’s no doubt that it’s a powerful force. It’s what makes you forgive your partner for being late, keep working on a creative project even when it’s frustrating, or feel devastated when your team loses.
It’s also what makes you want to give a gift that shows how much you care about someone. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or just looking for the perfect surprise, a thoughtful gift is one of the best ways to show that you’re thinking about someone.
But deciding what to buy isn’t as easy as just picking something that you know your friend or family member will like. The key to choosing the perfect gift is knowing your recipient well, and that’s where a good understanding of emotions can help.
A good place to start is by considering their current needs and interests. For example, a loved one might need to focus on their health this year, so a fitness tracker or healthy snack may be the perfect choice. Similarly, someone who has been wanting to take up painting might appreciate a quality canvas or a set of brushes.
But don’t let your emotional map of the world guide your gift choices too closely. It’s important to remember that while love is a positive emotion, it can also fuel negative feelings like jealousy when your friend starts dating her ex, grief over the loss of a pet, or nostalgia thinking about happy times with long-lost friends. And those emotions are just as valid as the positive ones. So when choosing a gift, consider all of these factors to find the perfect present.