You may have heard too that babies won’t thrive without physical holding and affection; there is little that will comfort and settle small children as the warm embrace of their family.
However, when we grow up, the amount of physical nurturing we receive declines; we lose touch with each other and sometimes get confused with our emerging sexuality.
We underestimate the powerful benefits of hugs; they include:
– reduce heart rates
– improve overall moods
– lower blood pressure
– increase nerve activity
Moreover, people who hug more frequently tend to be more open about their emotions and develop a greater sense of closeness and compassion to those around them; sometimes, the simple hug can open up mental blocks allowing an individual to feel increased feelings of happiness and even trigger a small release of serotonin and dopamine.
Now that you know all this, make a conscious effort to give and get at least 2 good hugs a day; start today.