Among the 5 main love languages, gift giving tends to get a bad reputation! However, it isn’t usually as materialistic as you might think. The gift giving love language can actually require a lot of thoughtfulness. And like the other love languages, it can be expressed within many different types of relationships. Keep reading to learn more about the gift giving love language and how it can be misunderstood.
Understanding the Gift Giving Love Language
Of the 5 love languages, gift giving feels the most misunderstood. It can often be thought of as surface-level or materialistic. However, the gift giving love language involves more than just spending money on someone and buying them expensive things. A lot of the time, this love language is driven by thoughtful consideration of gifts that will be appreciated specifically by one person.
Gift giving is an opportunity to show someone that you care about them. It shows that you have taken the time to understand what they love and what they don’t. The gift itself is a tangible representation that you listen, you pay attention to the little things, and you make the effort to deeply know them. When your special person receives their gift, it creates a sense of connection where feel truly seen, valued, and understood.
If you have a friend or loved one with a gift giving love language, you know that gift giving works both ways! Those with a gift giving love language tend to be amazing gift givers. They can spend hours brainstorming gift ideas or searching for the perfect present. And they actually enjoy the search process! Giving the perfect gift to someone they care about can be just as fulfilling as receiving one. It is how they express their love in their most natural way.
The Cost of Gift Giving
While people with the gift giving love language enjoy receiving gifts, there doesn’t always have to be a high price tag. And for some, there doesn’t have to be a price tag at all. The key to giving the perfect gift to someone with a gift giving love language is thought. If you give a gift without thought, it may actually have the opposite effect! This can result in the recipient feeling misunderstood and distant, like you don’t really know them at all.
Because of this, the gift giving love language is really all about knowing the person. Does this person love the finer things? Does a diamond necklace make them feel beautiful? If this is the case and the angle you decide to go with, your price tag might be a little high. But, this same person may also love to receive letters of affection from you. They may love if you bring home wild flowers for them that you hand picked. This has practically no price tag besides your time, effort, and love. It is more than possible to demonstrate your love to someone who has a gift giving love language without breaking the bank.
The Thought of Gift Giving
If you are in a romantic relationship with someone who has a gift giving love language, it becomes increasingly important to make sure your values and lifestyles are aligned. Some people might prefer expensive store-bought gifts, others might prefer homemade gifts, and others might feel uncomfortable if you spend a lot on their gift. Once again, it comes back to truly knowing the person you share a relationship with and understanding each other’s expectations.
It is impossible (without luck) to give an amazing gift to someone who you don’t know or understand well. The gift giving love language requires digging deeper to understand those you love and the things that they love. It involves thoughtfulness and conscious effort. Whether you give someone a small gesture or an elaborate present, the act of giving a gift can truly make an impact on your relationship and the level of connection that you share.