How Personalized Gifting Affect One’s Mental Health
Mental health is an important aspect of healthy living. The emotional, psychological and social aspects drive our state of mental wellbeing. From childhood, to adolescence to adulthood, our mental well-being is constantly challenged. Likewise, gift-giving too, is a social, emotional, and cultural experience. Although gift-giving is a materialistic exchange, it conveys a deeper social communication exchange across life on earth. Gift-giving is even seen in nature - Male dolphins will bring a sponge from the ocean, and gift it to a female dolphin who tosses it around and wears it as a hat!According to the Mental Health Foundation, ways to improve mental instability are by:
- Keeping in touch with people who matter and making social connection - Accepting who you are
- Giving and receiving care
- Finding purpose and meaning by investing in relationships
Keeping in touch
Researchers from South University state that improper gift giving can bring feelings of negativity under circumstances where the gift has no emotional/sentimental meaning, or when the gift is much more or much less than expected. This emotional detachment can contribute to mental instability.How can a poorly chosen gift contribute to this? Well... When a recipient is not satisfied with a gift, it indirectly communicates that the gift-giver has not put much time, effort or consideration into tailoring a gift to the recipient's preferences. Small things like these, cause disruption and distance in a relationship. Therapists suggest that psychological effects of disrupted relationships include the fear of missing out and loneliness. Shaded thoughts and feelings leave one to feel helpless and confused. Helplessness profoundly impacts one's mental wellbeing as they may experience symptoms of depression, stress and lack of motivation.
However, a well chosen gift - a personalized gift - conveys more than just a token of appreciation, it conveys your deep-seated love for the recipient! This allows the giver and recipient to build and foster a healthier, happier relationship. Bridges to Recovery - a mental health care program, states that a well fostered social network, benefits an individual's mental health in various ways as it:
- Allows for healthier lifestyle choices
- Improves self-esteem
- Builds resilience when challenged in stressful situations
Self Acceptance
Personalized gifts express a gesture of love, regard and respect for the recipient's unique personality and charm. Love is one of the most important aspects of living a healthy, happy life - self love from within and love from the people around you. Love makes you feel on top of the world!A personalized gift resonates deeply with emotion - conveying how much the recipient means to you. Receiving love and appreciation from ones you love allow for self acceptance. People begin to understand that they are worth being loved, that they are a lovable individual and people admire them for who they are and the amazing personality they have. They feel charged and happily euphoric! Feeling loved and self-loving causes our bodies to release neuro-chemicals which trigger positive long term emotions. Monoamine levels are increased and together, all our naturally producing chemicals allow for the magic of happiness we feel.
