The official launch of my book is on Hugging Day, 21 January. And through this, it is my desire to inspire many people to give and receive hugs.

There is one particular way, in which, each one of us can show love everyday – through hugging. Hugging is natural and popular in all cultures, a token of love noticed around the world.

Hugs are good for you

Hugs are a powerful way to show affection. It shows that you care. It shows that you have empathy with the other person. Hugging gives the indication that you will support that person through the good and bad times.

Hugs can take away physical pains in the body and help to soothe aches and sores. Hugging stimulates blood circulation into soft tissue and instantly makes us feel better. In addition to this, hugging helps us relax, which further increases the healing powers stored within it.

A hug from a friend is like water to a dying soul

For me, personally, there is nothing in the world that is as soothing as receiving a hug from my friends or loved ones. We all know how much a heart-felt hug can mean to us after a long, busy day.

Since the time of our birth, we had been constantly reminded by our family that we’re loved and special – and this was done through hugging and touching. The hugging we receive from our parents connect to us on a cellular level and imprints love at that level.

With this being imprinted into our being, we are inspired to share that feeling with others in our everyday lives. It helps us develop the ability to love others.

In addition, this hugging can also develop a sense of self-love within us – that feeling that we are treasured and loved. And so, whenever we are feeling down, a heart-felt hug can bring back those feelings; that feeling of adequacy and self-love instantly.

And so it develops a positive attitude within us once again.

Hugs can act in both ways. Not only can we use it to show love to others, but a hug from someone else can help us to heal some hurtful feelings within ourselves as well! Hugs teach us to give and to receive. Whenever you receive a hug, you must give one in return, which is beneficial to both huggers.

Hugging teaches us that love flows in both ways – to both huggers!

What the research says

Research has shown that hugging is a universal means of increasing someone’s happiness (as is laughter). A deep, thoughtful hug – one that genuinely comes from the heart, can benefit you in these four ways:

• Increase feelings of safety, security, trust, and belonging.
• Boost oxytocin levels – a hormone that heals feelings of loneliness, isolation, and anger.
• Lift serotonin levels – another hormone that elevates the mood and stirs on happiness.
• Reduces stress

As a loving mother, I receive plenty of hugs every single day from my two little princes and their father. There is nothing that helps me relax in the evening like a hug from one of them.

As the Beatles had said it so melodically, “All you need is love.”

It really is all you need…

Source: Graziano Breuning, Ph.D.