I wonder ... ?

According to Virginia Satir, we need:

4 hugs a day for survival
8 hugs a day for maintenance
12 hugs a day for growth

According to the Surgeon General, hugging is good for your health.

According to the research on hugging, the best way to hug for the maximum physiological benefit is left ear to left ear, which puts us heart to heart.

And the best part ... hugs are free!!!

On the first day at Breakthrough to Success, we were introduced to the research on hugging. Jack Canfield and his staff demonstrated the best hugging technique that according to the reseach provided the maximum physiological benefit.  Each of us were then given a lapel button that simply said "iHug" and were asked to pin it on our lapels.

Jack then asked all 200 participants to stand up and practice hugging each other. Wierd, I thought. I had never quite experienced anything like this at any of the personal development or professional trainings I had attended.

We were asked to participate in the hugging activity every morning to start our day. What started out as a very awkward few moments among strangers developed into a morning routine that literally changed the energy of the room and the bonding among the participants over the week. Many of us continue to wear our iHug buttons and are happy to teach people and demonstrate proper hugging for maximum benefit!

I can't help but wonder what might happen in the world if each of us started our days with a hug ... in our families, our workplaces, our schools, our social gatherings, even our town budget meetings! My bet is that our human connection would deepen, compassion would grow, our decisions, attitudes and actions would relect more kindness towards each other and we would literally transform ourselves, others and our worlds, one hug at a time.

Okay, so I've been called idealistic. I've been called a dreamer. But I simply can't help but wonder what might happen if we started an "iHug" movement!

If you decide to give this a try, here are a couple of suggestions. Make the offer with a sign or a button (http://www.manifestingfornongurus.com/ihug-buttons) or an open arms gesture, or even ask, "Can I give you a hug?". Wait for the other person to respond and reciprocate before you impose your hugs on anyone.

So, this hugging thing may seem strange to some of you. It may seem ridiculous. Too touchy feely. Embarassing. Awkward. Even impossible to incorporate. Some school personnel are worried about violations in policies on public displays of affection.

Hmmmm ... seriously ... hugging is all natural, practically perfect, free, can be done anytime, anywhere and with anyone ... and the benefits are far reaching, transformational even!

I encourage you to try it for a week. Or a month. One of the BTS participants took it back to his staff meetings in a major corporation, another into her school, another home to her family. The results were transformational for all.

I wonder if e-hugs work as well. Perhaps you will let me know :)

((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((YOU)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((ME)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

Or how about spending your day off like this guy did?