HAVE YOU GIVEN HUGS TODAY? It’s a healing tonic for the body

Over the past couple of weeks, my funky short hair style and brightly-coloured array of head scarves (due to the chemotherapy treatment) makes it obvious to people I meet (friends, family, neighbours and strangers) that I am going through some health issues.

Quite a few people find it difficult to discuss the journey or know what to say, or do.

It is a natural part of our thinking to either say nothing or think we need to give a profound message that all will be OK. Other times people just pretend they don’t see you. Recently, I have even gone into the thought that people are thinking "I am a cancer victim"…..

Let me express to you now, as Wayne Dyer so wonderfully stated, “I am arriving, not surviving”. For myself, being able to express how I am with my emotions and talk about this journey openly is one of the biggest challenges.

I have come to this conclusion – “I ask for a hug”.

Reaching out to another person is a very valuable thing. Recognise that while you cannot remove their pain, a hug can ground and validate both parties involved, even if only for a moment. The physical contact serves as both a reality check and a sign that somebody cares. Hugs also give the body, mind and spirit a lift with the hormone oxytocin in our blood. This hormone triggers a “caring” or "bonding" response in both men and women.

So are you giving hugs? A 20 second embrace is very healing. I ask you to consider this the next time you see someone who needs a little more love. It also benefits you!!

Research shows the positive effects of hugs:-
• Lowers blood pressure.
• Reduces stress
• Reduces the risk of heart disease.
• makes you feel loved and special
• Improve overall mood
• Positive physical touch has an immediate anti-stress effect, slowing breathing and heart.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lTRD_t8u-c

Virginia Satir, “We need 4 hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth.” According to her criteria, many of us don’t get the hugs we need to survive. But I tend to agree with her philosophy. Because once we make hugging a habit, we do more than survive. We grow.