The average hug is incredible short, lasting only 3 seconds.
Three seconds? Hardly enough time to look at your watch or settle into counting seconds. It’s a quick “hi”, “thanks”, “bye”. Not much time to communicate anything but “see ya”.
If your sweetheart prefers to be romanced through touch, something I can identify with, you need more than a 3-second hug. You need to learn to really hug your sweetheart.
I’m going to suggest you learn to give your sweetheart a long hug for your own good.
If you’re not a toucher, you may doubt that statement. How could something that is not your preference be good for you?
Researchers have discovered that a hug lasting at least 11 seconds, about four times as long as the average hug, will benefit both your sweetheart AND you.
A sincere, warm, lingering embrace produces oxytocin. And you’ll like what oxytocin does for you and your sweetheart.
- It reduces stress and relaxes.
- It calms fears and lowers your heart rates.
- It reduces pain and strengthens the immune system.
And a hug helps us slow down, balance our nervous system and show appreciation for the person we hug (our sweetheart).
Seventy percent of our communication is nonverbal. It’s not what we say that is most responsible for what we communicate. It is how we speak without speaking, how we talk beyond the use of our voice, how we express through tone and gestures (body language) that transmits our real thoughts. If you want to really let your sweetheart know how you feel about him/her, start with a long, slow, lingering hug. By slowing down and taking 11 seconds (or more) to hug your sweetheart, you’ll deepen the relationship between you and your sweetheart. Plus you’ll both reap the physical and relational benefits provided by this simple hug.
Robert, a hopeless romantic
You’re welcome to quote from or share the contents of this blog provided you credit the source.
Romance Alive 