Today is Day 15 of my 31 Days of Self-Love posts to celebrate Self-Love Month with suggestions for jumpstarting your own self-love.

Hugs are therapeutic, even when you give them to yourself. Studies have shown that the more hugs you get, the stronger your well-being. Touch is therapeutic for your emotional health. Hugs, caressing, massages, etc. all do more than just feel good at the moment. They have lingering results. Babies in orphanages that don’t get much touching often grow up with severe emotional issues.

While it’s nice to get hugs and caresses from others, you can provide it to you at any time!

People tell me that they’re anxious to be in a romantic relationship because they need the hugs and cuddling they get from it. It leads to many poor choices in a romantic partner, lots of settling, and it keeps people from leaving when they know they should. Putting up with someone who makes you unhappy or is just not the person you want to be with for the physical perks sells you way short, and deflates self-love.

Hugging yourself says, “I love me,” and helps you to feel good.

I love to hug myself and often just wrap my arms around me for a minute. I don’t do it when anyone is around. Self-hugs are just for me in private. It felt funny the first few times, as it may for you. But eventually you’ll get used to it and then enjoy the benefits. Hold yourself. Rub your arms and any other parts your hands touch. Close your eyes and appreciate how good touch feels, even if it from you.

The more you love yourself, the more you’ll appreciate self-hugs. While they’re not a substitute for being hugged by someone else, they’re a separate feel-good action.

Have you hugged yourself yet? Give yourself one as you read this if you can. Feeling down? Be loving! Hug yourself into a loving emotional state and get hugs from others when you can too. A hug is a hug. They’re all different. One from a lover is different than one from a friend which is different than one from your parent. They’re all therapeutic! Falling in love with yourself takes time, but it brings more joy than you can imagine! Hugs reinforce it. And, they attract more love into your life.

Take the self-love challenge and get my book, How Do I Love Me? Let Me Count the Ways for free at http://howdoiloveme.com. And you can post your loving acts HERE to reinforce your intention to love yourself.

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