December 2009

THE PERFECT GIFT

• Have you decided yet what gift you are going to give to the most important person in your life?
• Do you think that special person will be delighted with your choice?

Perhaps you will choose something safe but boring, socks, scarf, bathroom lotions and potions. Maybe you will select something inspired by your own likes and dislikes, hobbies or passions. If you can’t decide or simply don’t have time money could be an unimaginative alternative.

Some people have even taken the step of banning present giving altogether, refusing to accept or exchange gifts in an effort to remove the stress.

The seasonal pressure to shop for gifts is made worse by traffic, crowds and commercialisation making the whole process a chore rather than a pleasure until we begin to wonder WHY BOTHER!

Not surprisingly LOVE is the answer!

Erich Fromm, Ph.D. tells us "It is actually the act of loving that is rewarding. Being loved is important mostly because it facilitates our opportunities to love. Just consider how suffocating it feels to be loved when we don't love in return. When we love, we give. Every time we do something for someone else we feel effective, useful and generous. Giving a tangible gift can also lead to some reflection about what our relationship to the person is (what kind of gift is appropriate), how much we care about the person (how much effort do we want to go to), and how that person's likes or dislikes may be similar to our own (what should we actually buy or make). These are just some of the thoughts gift-giving provokes"

Gift giving then is an act of love that demonstrates that you know and understand the other person well and that you care enough to choose a gift to meet THEIR INTERESTS and not your own!

And like the proverbial pebble in a pond, giving a well-chosen gift creates its own ripple effect. The more we give, the more we come to care about the person we are giving to and the more they feel good about themselves and want to give to others in return.

Who is on your gift list is telling you who is important in your life - It says who is more important and who is less important.

So this Christmas TAKE TIME to follow the 3 Rules of Giving:

• Know who matters most to you and why
• Know what matters most to them and why
• Consider what they really Want and Need

"Remember, the greatest gift is not found in a store nor under a tree, but in the hearts of true friends".

Cindy Lew

The 3 Stages of Life

• One: You believe in Father Christmas
• Two: You don’t believe in Father Christmas
• Three: You ARE Father Christmas

Question: Why is Christmas just like another day at the office?
Answer: You end up doing all the work and the fat guy in the suit gets all the credit!

Look out for details of my New Book "How to Beat Bedlam in the Boardroom and Boredom in the Bedroom" due out early 2010

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