Improving Yourself By Hugging
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Attitude and Positive Thinking and Doing
Attitude is the foundation of good health. When we "see the glass as half-full" instead of half-empty, we actually set up the conditions needed for living a healthy life-style. It has been proven that our immune system responds to the way we think which affects our health. Breaking the "negative thinking" habit is a huge pay-off. The quickest way to do this is to begin a program of positive affirmations. Think of it this way - every time you replace a negative thought with a positive thought, you are giving yourself a mental hug.
Love Who You Are
Another way to improve yourself one hug at a time, is to learn to love who you are and begin putting your needs first. You can't do for others when you are weak, sick, in pain or depressed. It's not selfish to take time to exercise, prepare a healthy and nutritious diet, meditate, socialize, take a power nap and laugh, especially when you laugh at yourself.
Exercise?
If you hate to exercise - ok. I get it. So don't exercise. Instead, just move now and then. Even if you only vacuum the floor, you absolutely must move. Your physical energy and over-all health depends on exercising your heart muscle. But you already know this. You've heard it again and again. Baby steps, my friend. Do a little bit at a time then gradually increase your activity until you are "moving" for 20 minutes each day. And guess what? The latest studies have shown that your activity does not have to be continuous. You can accumulate your time. Ten minutes here, 10 minutes there - you get the picture. A walk is probably the best way to go, however, you can also "get moving" by dancing, washing the car, cleaning, shopping or make the bed 10 times. :)
H20 and Then Some
Is it really important to drink at least 6-8 glasses of water every single day? Just how much water should I be drinking each day? You may be surprised to learn that the answer is not a "one size fits all" answer. The thing that determines how much water we should be drinking is:
- Our weight
- The climate we live in
- Our level of activity
Wikihow.com says, "There are a variety of reasons to drink plenty of water each day. Adequate water intake prevents dehydration, cleans out the body, and promotes healing processes. Substituting water for beverages high in calories can also help control weight."
I use to have a really hard time drinking 1 glass of water a day, let alone the required 8 glasses. I finally learned that water is an acquired taste. My friends also suggested I add a couple of lemon slices, or lime to my water and that helped some. Then I read somewhere that adding a slice of cucumber might help. . .and sure enough, it did. Another trick I use is to add organic 100% cranbury juice. It is all natural with no sugar or sweetner, so if you try this be sure to delute it with plenty of water and a kick of stevia.
An added benefit for me - and a big motivator to drink my H20 - was losing a few extra pounds each month.
Eating Green With or Without Kermit
Develope the habit of eating green. Begin to think about the results or consequences of what foods you put into your body. You already know the program - you've heard it often enough. Again, it's about making choices - the right choices. Eating nutrionally is a mind-set.
When you can, grow your own vegetables and herbs. Its fun, rewarding and healthier than purchasing these foods at the market. Planting from seeds is a great money-saver. And you can use an egg-container to start your seeds. (No styrofoam please).
One of the best and healthiest fish is Barramundi. Thanks, Australia, for supplying us with this Super Food.
Choices
Making wise choices is perhaps the most important thing we can do to improving our health. Do any of the following, ring a bell? "Should I see my doctor? I hate having a mammogram - maybe I'll skip it this year. The last time I had a blood test, it felt like the technician was drilling for oil. It may be broken, but I'll just wait and see. I'm too sick to go to emergency. I had a complete physical last year, so I'm gonna skip it this year".
Take control of your life - be accountable. Stop blaming others and circumstances for your misfortunes. You have been given free-will. Use it wisely.
Begin a gratitude journal and list yourself as #1.
A Great Big Hug
Give yourself a hug each day - especially if you live alone. You can treat yourself to a physical hug, or a mental-inspiring hug.
To hug yourself physically, simply wrap your arms around yourself so that opposite hands touch and cling to the back of the shoulders. Take a nice deep breath and hold the hug for 25 seconds, remembering to breath during the process. Close your eyes and see yourself as a little precious child. Your body will relax and "let-go". Wonderful!
To hug yourself mentally and spiritually, sit in a comfortable place and begin to notice your breathing, deep and soothing. Let your body completely relax and follow your mind to a peaceful, beautiful, private place. As you visualize your "secret garden", imagine a radiant light coming toward you. It enters your heart. From the heart, the light flows through every part of your body. It fills you with total peace. And when you are filled with this peaceful state, the light begins to surround your outer-body, lingering and hugging you. You are now one, with God.
Begin Your Gratitude Journal Now
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Sart your own Health Journal Today
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Give One Person a Hug Each Day and Build 2 Immune Systems
Improving Your Health One Hug At a Time
How healthy are you?
Have you ever hugged yourself?
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- Awesome (16)
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I love it and I love the way you think and write, I think a hub a day is a fab idea and at least one plus we should remember to hug others, getting hugged back in the process. Now I'm off to go about hugging everyone I see. Love and Peace :) Katie
That was wonderful,. Thank you. If l knew what other hubbers meant when they say they´ll ´´bookmark´´ this one l would do it. (but l don´t have a clue)
What a Wonderful and Inspiring Hub Vocalcoach. If only we can remember these simple rules for Health and Happiness...I will practice a Hug a Day! Thanks for sharing.
You have beautiful tips here. Thanks to remind us to always improving our health. We need this all the time. Healthy is like an investment for the future. I'll bookmark this one. Rated Up Up Up. God bless you!
Prasetio,
b.Malin -
sharing a hug is such a little thing to do, but oh my the rewards are big! Happy health to you b. So glad to see you. Hugs! vocalcoach
'Attitude' is the resumen and comes out of ones individual *learning & growing* process. For sure it can't have a healthy result, if added to other concepts one has made to ones properties, - as beautiful these might be.
A hug a day... yep count me in!!!
Great hub, good writing. Awesome. I really did like your ideas
A brilliant hub vocalcoach,
You are so right, to have a hug or to give a hug is so simple but very sad when someone cannot do this.
Maybe they were never hugged and it does not feel right.'Maybe ...............I don't know'
I am just so glad that I am able to and I was always hugging my children, now my grandchildren and of course my wonderful partner Dai.
Nobody gets away from having a hug with me.
This hub is so you vocalcoach.
Beautiful to the very core.
Thank you for sharing,
Take care
Eiddwen.
A beautiful Hub just like you my dear!
Big Hugs to you this day and always! EarthAngel!
A big (HUG) for you for writing this great hub! I am so excited about your cucumber slice in the water tip, I almost want to go out and do my shopping right now to pick one up! I have the hardest time with water and this sounds like it might work for me. Gave myself a nice hug too. You are great - Thanks!
Dim - To "bookmark" means to save the hub so you can review it again. Go up to the right-hand corner of the page and just beneath the writers picture, you will see a grey box with choices, beginning with "read more hubs".
The last link is "bookmark" - click on it and then click save. It will be saved for you to read again. If you have trouble, let me know. Thanks Dim - :)vocalcoach
That's a thumbs up on that one, and awesome pick me up. Thank you for sharing the good news with us. Godspeed. creativeone59
And another big HUG to you VC for sharing this awesome, super positive Hub. I know you've been doing the 30 day challenge and bet this one just flowed naturally :) :)
This is a terrific hub as it is so important to take care of yourself. I off to hug someone I love. Rated up and awesome.
Wow. Another nice hub. The first part inspires me to be positive though the circumstance is not fitting. Thanks, coach. Your profile photo depicts a happy and loving mother!
Katie, fantastic woman, I'll just bet you hug those beautiful girls of yours all the time. And "group hugs" insure a feeling of "oneness". I am sending you an "Audrey Hug" across the miles. :)
We are big huggers in our family, but I never really thought about hugging myself. I'll give it a try! As alway, inspiring information to help us cope with life on the planet Earth!
Hugs to you!! Thanks for gifting me with a smile today!
Great suggestions, Audrey, especially about hugs. No one gets - or gives - enough hugs. Consider this comment a loving hug from me to you.
Faithdream - Awwwe ~ You sent me hugs. Love it! Now, how did you know that I needed a hug? I think I will give myself another one and go read one of your wonderful hubs. :) vocalcoach
You are the best Audrey! This hub is you, positive and inspirational! These are such great tips too! You are the expert natural healer! Rated up!
A positively uplifting hub. Hugs to you!
up/beautiful
A very positive and lovely hub! There can never be enough inspiration in our daily life, we so need it as a contradiction to all negative news that we always hear of. Thanks for sharing your inspiration and good advices! Up/awesome! Tina
My son and myself love hugging and do it very often. I always say that it is the best thing and cost nothing and yet people don't see it.
Thoughtforce - You make a very good point. We certainly are caught up in a media broadcasting negativity and darkness. We really do need positive re-inforcements. Thank you tina...always appreciate hearing from you.
Vocalcoach, I love this hub and I love hugging (physically, mentally, spiritually!). Sometimes I even email virtual hugs to some friends whom I don't get to see very often. LOL Rated up and beautiful. :)
Aaaawh... such a beautiful and educative Hub. I love the photo's. I have made a note to eat more Greens and less browns (chocolate). :)
Lady_E ~ Such a joy to have you stop by and to read your bright, positive comments. And I have to say, chocolate is my big weakness. I love, love, love the stuff. And when I make a choice to have "green over brown", I give myself a huge, long hug! :)vocalcoach
Om Paramapoonya - You should see the smile on my face - and you put it there. I thank you for your wonderful comments. How marvelous for me - to meet a hugger like you! And may I send you one right now? :) vocalcoach
loved your hub vocalcoach. you have covered each and every aspect related to good health.
voted up!
Ruchira - I am so happy to see you here Ruchira. Just read one of your hubs and I can't wait to read more by you. Thanks and I hope to see you here again, very soon. :) vocalcoach
What a great idea - to give yourself a hug, LOL!! Thanks for sharing is 'huggable' hub! v/r
Support Med. - I love your comment - always a sweet pleasure to see you my friend. Excuse me now, as I give myself a hug. :)vocalcoach
..well the day I met you my dear sweet Audrey was a day when my health and well being improved - I will always keep a light in the window for you - and I love the sound of your voice - and you are 'someone (I know) who will watch over me' ......
Brilliant and very useful tips, thank you for sharing.
Great hub.HUG!Hug!One for me and one for you.up vote
acaetnna - Hello, pretty one. I sure love your comments. The only thing I love more, are your fantastic hubs. You have a huge talent! Think I will go and knock on your door right now. :) vocalcoach
glowingrocks - Wow, but that hug felt great! How did you ever guess that I needed that. Now, if I just had a few of the divine rocks that your feature in your amazing hubs!
Great hub!
This was a delightful hub with some very sage advice and I absolutely loved the photos, especially of the toddler hugging and kissing his mirror image.
Christine - Thank you. Very nice to see you here. Come back real soon!
Hello - How wonderful to hear that your son and you hug each other often. That is such a healing thing to do. A hug, feels so darn good and can repair so much that needs "fixng". That is the main reason I hug myself several times a day! :)
Another awesome hub, Audrey. I'm glad I read this today (Sat. May 28th) I am going through an emotionally difficult time and feel quite alone, since my wonderful children are so far away. I don't get those hugs and have hugged myself, but sometimes, it is just nice having that other hug.
Hope you are doing well, yourself. ((((Hugs to you))))
Hugs are wonderful although I never thought of hugging myself. Makes a certain amount of sense! Here are extra hugs to you and Denise Handlon who apparently needs an extra hug about now. Great hub. Up and useful votes from me.
Denise - I know exactly what you mean. Most of the time, I grab my son and either I hug him, or I tell him that I need a hug. It's really hard when your children leave home. Here, we are mothers over half of our lives, living for our children, and then one day - everything changes. I hope you can feel the warm, loving hug I am sending to you right now!
Thanks Peggy and Audrey--got both of your warm, generous hugs and it felt great. LOL
Fay - ...and heres a big hug to you, my friend. Thank you for reading my hub. :)
Kathy - oh, thank you, my sweet one. I really needed to hear your beautiful words today. I am losing my older brother - he will be "moving on" anytime now. I want to be there with him, but he lives to far away to make it in time. So your very kind words came at a "key moment" for me. You, Kathy, are love!
drbj - Oh boy...I felt that hug and did I ever need it today. Thanks, dear friend for all you do for me. I was given a very special gift, the day I found you, here on hubpages. Keep a rainbow handy!
Truckstop Sally - I love hugs and can't get enough. I think one reason I loved living in Hawaii was for the genuine hugs I recieved with every "aloha". What can I say? A hug a day, Keeps my blues away!" :)
Pamela - I'll just bet your hugs are warm and sincere too. Lucky people who are on the receiving end!
Green Lotus - My dear, precious and beautiful friend. You know me well - this hub really did "flow". I wish more would :) I really love hugs. I wish I could give one last hug to my big brother as he makes the transition from this life, to the next. At least I was able to talk to him for a minute on the phone and tell him how proud I am of him, how blessed to be his little sister and how much I love him. It is never easy to lose those we love is it? But we can love one another...and I love you!
creativeone59 - I always love to get a visit from you! I seem to light up when I see your name. Thank you so much and God Bless!
cwarden - I sure hope the cucumber slice added to your water helps. It is the only way I can down my 8 glasses a day. :) Now, if I could just find someone to hug after each glass of water, that, in and of itself, would be motivation enough. Thank you, my friend.
EarthAngel - You are always a light in my day. Thank you, for your lovely comments. :)
sending you a hug vocallllllll.
Eiddwen - I might have known that this would be a familiar gesture to you. Anyone with a heart as big as yours, both gives and gets hugs regularly. I couldn't help but notice that a few people that voted thought that hugging was "silly". Your comment gave the correct reason for that, and I thank you. Soooooooo - here is yet one more hug from me to you!
jann - Thank you very much for your lovely comments. I am so pleased that you came by - I hope to see you again very soon! :)vocalcoach
Ashantina - I just knew you would be up for a few hugs - so here's a big one from me to you!
BeiYin - Thank you for your comments on "attitude". You have added an interesting element to my hub. I hope to see you again.
Prasetio, my friend - Sorry it has taken so long for me to respond. I always appreciate your support and kind comments. You manage to put a smile on my face, even in difficult times. Thank you and God Bless!
neeleshkulkarni - Well, I certainly enjoyed that hug. I really needed it today! :)
It is always wonderful to read your piece. A great piece of great benefit and helpful
Oh thank you ubanichijioke! Your kind and caring comments are so welcomed. I think I deserve a hug, so will wrap my arms around myself and then send you a hug too!
Hi Vocalcoach :-)
As always your hub is wonderful.
I never thought about the idea of mental Hugs before,
and it sounds so right.I think i will try one in the morning, and one before going to sleep .
Thank you for your wonderful Hub :-)
Voted and rated.
shaii - I'm thrilled to see you here and appreciate the time you have taken to read and comment on my hub. Sending you a virtual hug from me!
Our paths have crossed again as this hub came up as a ‘related hub’ on my latest one! We seem to be dancing to the same tune - I love what you’ve written here particularly the gentle encouragement you use to coax people to feel better about themselves, the bit about exercise is just great.
And I love hugs too. With two cuddly daughters and a cuddly cat still at home I get plenty, even if my hubby isn’t the huggiest man around.
I see from the comments that you had another bereavement, you have my condolences.
Melovy ~ I'm so very sorry that I didn't catch your beautiful comment before today. As I read every wonderful word, I felt a strong connection with a desire to just reach out and
give you a big hug.
I'm glad to know you have those two cuddly daughters and a cuddly cat. You tell your man that he's missing out :-)
Thank you for your thoughtfulness and my best to you!
You have so much positive energy to share with the world! Another great piece y you!!! Bill Holland said for us to read this. Now, I know why!!! Voted up!!!
What a fantastic hub! So uplifting and full of great info and advice. I will have to try the cucumber in the water idea... I love hugging! we should all do more of it! :)
So true - positivity really does do a body good. I have been stressed a bit lately (which is just normal - I have been getting my uncle moved here to St. Louis from Arkansas - finishing up this week though). I think I will give myself a hug and send you one too:) lol
Up and everything! I always read your hubs and feel as if I should paste them on my fridge!
I am starting today with my new schedule - more water (I am hopeless in this respect, I drink loads of coffee though), more exercise and a self-hug every day - sounds like a recipe for success to me!
Many thanks Audrey, giving you a virtual hug from across the pond :o)
imaudraleigh - How very nice of Bill Holland to recommend my hub on hugging. And how equally nice that you are here and found my hub to be positive. Thank you so much and I appreciate knowing that you gave me a vote up!
iamaudra ~ I'm so happy to see you here. Haven't had a visitor on this one for a while now. So sweet of Bill to mention my hub. Sending you and Bill a big "Hub Hug."
Dana - I loved living in Hawaii for many reasons, but I think hugging was the big one. I also love the hugs I get from my friends at church. It just feels sooooo good!
FaithDream Level 3 Commenter 13 months ago
This is awesome. one hug, one day, at a time.. a new one to be added to the 10 step program. :-)
Thanks for sharing this wonderful piece. {{huggs}} to you.