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Episode 2378:
Leo Babauta explores six timeless gifts that can profoundly impact your relationships and enrich your loved ones' lives. These gifts such as presence, attention, and forgiveness require no material effort but nurture deep emotional connections. By offering these, you foster a bond of genuine care, creating a lasting impact on those you hold dear.
Read along with the original article(s) here: https://zenhabits.net/the-six-greatest-gifts-you-can-give-your-loved-ones
Quotes to ponder:
"By simply being present with someone, you are showing them that you value them."
"Forgiveness is a gift to yourself as much as to others."
"Your love is one of the most powerful gifts you can give someone, yet it costs you nothing."
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[00:00:00] This is Optimal Relationships Daily, The Six Greatest Gifts You Can Give Your Loved Ones by Leo Babauta of ZenHabits.net
[00:00:10] It's Christmas time, and it's the season of giving. What are you giving your loved ones this year?
[00:00:15] The holidays often mean giving a lot of gifts, sometimes expensive, but often we lose sight of what's important.
[00:00:22] What gifts do your loved ones really want, whether they're your children, your significant other, your parents, your friends, or other family members?
[00:00:30] Is it an expensive electronic item, or some other material or tangible item? Perhaps.
[00:00:36] But the gifts I'm going to list are more important. Sure, they may not be as fun to open on Christmas morning, or whatever other holiday you might celebrate, but in the long run, they'll value these gifts more.
[00:00:50] Number one, your presence.
[00:00:53] This means making it a priority to spend time with them. If they are truly important, you can make the time.
[00:00:59] You might have to change things in your life to make the time, but it's worth it.
[00:01:04] Beyond just making the time, though, you have to actually be present when you spend time with loved ones.
[00:01:09] That means learning to stay in the moment, rather than having your mind on other things.
[00:01:14] Checking your iPhone or BlackBerry every two minutes.
[00:01:16] Or trying to take care of other tasks and chores while spending time with them.
[00:01:21] Instead, drop everything else and focus on being there with your loved ones.
[00:01:26] Really listen. Really have fun. Really be present.
[00:01:30] Number two, your love.
[00:01:32] This is perhaps an obvious one on the list, but it's too important to gloss over.
[00:01:37] However, it's imperative that you tell your loved ones that, well, you love them. Regularly.
[00:01:43] But just as important is that you actually show them you love them in your actions every day, throughout the day.
[00:01:49] Hugs, intimacy, smiles, doing kind things for them, considering their needs and feelings.
[00:01:55] Just little things that mean a lot.
[00:01:58] Number three, your compassion.
[00:02:01] How is this different than giving the gift of your love?
[00:02:04] Well, it's possible to love someone and not show compassion.
[00:02:08] For example, we parents often discipline our children and love them at the same time.
[00:02:13] But often compassion is even more important than discipline.
[00:02:18] Compassion is finding empathy with your loved one.
[00:02:21] Trying to see things from their eyes.
[00:02:23] Trying to understand what they're going through.
[00:02:25] And then doing your best to be kind and to end their suffering and to make them happier.
[00:02:32] Number four, a voice.
[00:02:35] We can give so much just by paying attention to a loved one and really listening and showing that we're interested in what they have to say.
[00:02:42] And showing that what they say is important and respected.
[00:02:46] Too often our children or spouse might talk to us but are only met with a disinterested nod or other small acknowledgement.
[00:02:53] Or we'll make light or fun of what they say as if it's not important.
[00:02:58] But giving a person a voice and showing that their words matter will have a long-lasting difference in their lives.
[00:03:06] Number five, a healthy lifestyle.
[00:03:09] When you spend time with your loved one, try to do so while enjoying a healthy and fun activity.
[00:03:15] Such as going on a hike, playing a sport, tossing around a frisbee, going for a walk or jog, doing some yard work, and so on.
[00:03:24] When you get together to eat, try to eat healthy foods.
[00:03:27] Make the habits of good health a part of your lifestyle.
[00:03:31] And encourage your loved ones to do the same.
[00:03:33] It could save their lives.
[00:03:35] Number six, your belief in them.
[00:03:38] Simply believing in another person and showing that in your words and in your deeds can make a huge difference.
[00:03:45] Studies of people who grew up in dysfunctional homes but who grew up to be happy and successful
[00:03:50] show that the one thing they had in common was a significant adult who believed in them.
[00:03:56] Do this for your child and for the adult loved ones in your life as well.
[00:04:01] Support their dreams and passions and hobbies.
[00:04:04] Participate with them.
[00:04:05] Be nothing but encouraging.
[00:04:07] Be their greatest cheerleader.
[00:04:09] Whether they actually accomplish these dreams or not, your belief is of unlimited importance to them.
[00:04:15] You just listened to the post titled,
[00:04:21] The Six Greatest Gifts You Can Give Your Loved Ones by Leo Babauta of zenhabits.net.
[00:04:28] No shopping necessary here.
[00:04:30] Leo has listed some of the greatest gifts possible today and the good news is you have them accessible to you at any time.
[00:04:37] And therefore you should give them at any time, not just Christmas morning.
[00:04:40] There is definitely still some desire to make a presentable gift to someone out of these feelings though.
[00:04:46] I understand.
[00:04:47] So it reminds me actually of a gift I once gave that was called, I wrote it, it was called the best friend card.
[00:04:54] I basically made little credit cards for two of my friends and on them I listed several things that they could ask me to do for them at any time, forever redeemable.
[00:05:05] It was a cool idea and got some laughs.
[00:05:07] But I loved giving it because to me, it was a representation of my commitment to them and how they can always count on me if they need me.
[00:05:16] It went beyond just the physical gifts and instead symbolized our bond.
[00:05:21] Something similar could certainly be done for Leo's healthy lifestyle gift idea specifically.
[00:05:26] Maybe you could present someone with a voucher that says,
[00:05:29] By presenting this voucher, you are allowed to take me away from my work so we can toss the frisbee around no matter how much work I have going on.
[00:05:37] Or something like that.
[00:05:39] Alright, enough of my blabbering.
[00:05:40] Thank you so much for being here with me today, friends.
[00:05:43] I hope you've got some more meaningful and abstract gift ideas after listening today.
[00:05:47] There is more great content coming for you tomorrow though.
[00:05:50] So I hope you will join me there where your optimal life awaits.