Mindfulness Daily Check-In December 18, 2017

Hello my wonderful peeps out there Today I'd like to chat a little on "being mindful when gift giving"

Its not how much we give but how much love we put into giving. — Mother Teresa

The holidays are a time for gratitude, celebrations, family, friends, and, of course, gifts. Bombarded with advertising trying to convince you that you need the latest and greatest, its easy to lose sight of what really matters and overlook the art of thoughtful gift giving. Thoughtful giving comes from a practice of mindfulness. Being mindful means paying attention to the present moment without judgement, bringing greater clarity to the mind and more insight and creativity into life.

What Makes a Mindful Gift?

Mindful giving involves paying attention to:

What is meaningful for the recipient

Exploring your whys behind giving the gift

Reconsidering your preconceived or habitual ways of giving

As you slow down and consider the process of gift giving, you can swap the stress and anxiety of purchasing the perfect present for the true pleasure of generosity.

1. Give to Yourself First- During the holiday season there are many demands on your energy and time. When you are giving to everyone except yourself, your gifts may spread care to others, but fail to nurture your needs. As you become depleted, you are less present and miss out on meaningful moments. You cannot mindfully give to others if you have not first taken care of yourself.

2. Plan Ahead- In order to slow down and practice mindful gift giving, you need to take time to think through your choices. You dont have to wait until the holiday frenzy begins. Start early! Planning well ahead of the holiday season allows you the time and energy to brainstorm ways to make your gifts meaningful. It also reduces the stress of last-minute shopping or reaching for a quick, but superficial choice.

3. Give Presents of Presence- We each have unique skills and talents. Offering someone your time and expertise can be a truly thoughtful gift and also deepen your connection. Material items often break or become outdated, but the memories of sharing an experience or learning something new can last a lifetime. Think about a skill you can share by providing lessons for a loved one. Its a heartfelt way to spend time with a special person and share your passions. Teach them how to:

4. Share from the Heart- A heartfelt note can be a gift in itself. Offer forgiveness, gratitude, or love to remind someone you care about them and that they are cherished. Letters that come from the heart show a mindful connection. Similarly, gratitude or memory jars can be thoughtful gifts. Heres how to put one together:

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