The average length of a hug between two people is 3 seconds. But researchers have discovered something fantastic. When a hug lasts 20 seconds, there is a therapeutic effect on the body and mind. The reason is that a sincere hug produces a hormone called "oxytocin", also known as the love hormone. This substance has many benefits in our physical and mental health, helps us, among other things, to relax, to feel safe and calm our fears and anxiety. This wonderful calming is offered free of charge every time we have a person in our arms, who cradled a child, we cherish a dog or cat, we're dancing with our partner, the closer we get to someone or just hold the shoulders of a friend.

No wonder that Tango has such a comeback. I personally love Argentine Tango and am dancing it since 2010.

But you really don't need anybody to receive a hug. You can give it to yourself. I do this quite often. I take myself in my own arms and give me a big, sweet hug and tell me that I know that I always do the best I can, that I am fine and that I love myself. 

When did you say the last time wholeheartedly "YES" to life?

Oliver Wendell Holmes said, "Many people die with their music still in them. Why is this so?  Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live.  Before they know it, time runs out."

I love becoming still and observing this moment. Just this moment. Do I live fully right now? Or do I wait till "XY" is accomplished with the idea that at that moment I'll start living my "real life"?  

Where is my attention focused on: On experiencing this moment fully with all its tastes, smells, motions, sounds? Or am I looking at an imaginary future in my head which shows me and my life with conditions I'll call "perfect" which will give me the permission to begin living my "real life"?

In my own life, I often struggled with the idea of being too heavy, of not having the ideal body. Accepting the 'what is now' allowed me to begin dancing Tango despite my judgements on my body. Instead of waiting for the right future  to arrive, I started where I was. And I began to love and accept and even admire my body. And today I dance Tango and I am still not a photo model for bikinis. 

"Every person takes the limits of their own field of vision for the limits of the world."
                   ~ Arthur Schopenhauer
And how limiting is that?!
This is exactly why the coaching profession is so exciting and powerful... when I am with my coach my own field of vision is left outside, like a pair of old boots, as I step barefoot into possibility.
 ~ Steve Chandler
Another word for "coach" is "facilitator". In The Work of Byron Katie, coaches are called "facilitators" because they facilitate the process. Click here to find out why I, Sylvia, work with a coach / facilitator.