02nd July, 2022
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch,
a smile,
a kind word,
a listening ear,
a honest compliment,
or the smallest act of caring,
all of which have the potential to turn a life around.
Remember,
the one who seems the strongest is sometimes the one who is in most need of a hug.
Various studies show that the Hug or the ‘Jaadoo kee Jhappi’ as popularised by Munnabhai helps lower cortisol, which is sometimes called “the stress hormone,” in our body.
Hugs even lower blood pressure and heart rate. At the same time, a wonderful hug with a family member or friend will also bolster the level of neurotransmitters such as dopamine in your system.
Hugs are an essential form of physical touch that humans rely on from the moment they’re born throughout the rest of their lives.
Depending on the type of hug, it can be a sign of romantic intimacy, security, emotional support, friendship, or love.
A hug releases the hormone oxytocin, also known as the ‘love hormone’ which has been found to play an important role in emotional, cognitive and social behaviours.
When released, it can create feelings of calm, closeness and trust.
University of North Carolina conducted a study with 59 women and found some interesting results. After a short series of questions and general chatting about their partner, some women ended each session with a 20-second hug. The women who received a hug from their partners had lower blood pressure and heart rates during stressful sections of testing. The researchers think that oxytocin (that we mentioned earlier) might be the cause for their better heart health.
All of us can probably agree that sometimes there’s nothing like a hug when you’re feeling blue.
A retirement home in New York decided to take this idea to a systematic level and implement a program called “Embraceable You.”
It was a push for more contact between the older residents and staff members so as to improve the residents’ well-being.
As it turned out, the residents who received three or more hugs per day felt less depressed, had more energy, could concentrate easier and slept better.
So the next time you’re going in for a handshake, try a hug and see how you both feel afterward!
It is said that:
‘We need 4 Hugs a day for survival,
We need 8 Hugs a day for maintenance, and
We need 12 Hugs a day for growth.
Stretch your arms and give your loved one a hug today; it will do both of you a world of good.
The best part is that all of these cost nothing.
This weekend, Hug your loved ones and stay blessed forever