Choose Presence Over Presents
We’ve all felt it, the rush to buy, wrap, and deliver. Yet, somehow, when the paper settles and the lights dim, something still feels missing that’s because material gifts fade, but experiences that expand our hearts and health become part of us.
According to The Journal of Consumer Research, experiential gifts like wellness retreats, creative workshops, or nature experiences create stronger emotional bonds between giver and receiver than physical items. They activate brain areas associated with empathy and connection.
This season, I invite you to think differently about giving.
Instead of asking “What should I buy?”, ask: What experience would help this person feel alive, calm, or inspired?
Here are a few ideas:
A copy of Awaken Now, paired with a handwritten note about what you love in the person you’re gifting it to.
A wellness experience, such as a massage, acupuncture, yoga, or meditation sessions.
A shared memory: join them at one of our Awaken Now Retreats and make wellness a journey you take together.
Because the real purpose of giving isn’t to impress, it’s to awaken. When you give wellness, you give someone the tools to reconnect with their vitality, nervous system, and purpose, and that’s a gift that doesn’t fade, it transforms.