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.