All We Need Is A Hug

There are times in life when words aren't enough. You can offer advice, try to find the right thing to say or tell somebody that everything will be alright. But sometimes none of those things are what somebody needs. Sometimes all we need is a hug. A hug can say something that words struggle to express. I'm here. You're not alone. I care about you. You don't have to deal with this on your own.

We can underestimate the importance of human contact because we spend so much of our lives communicating through phones, screens and messages. Yet there is something powerful about simply being close to another person when they are having a difficult time.

It doesn't solve the problem. It doesn't make the disappointment disappear. It doesn't change what has happened, but it can make somebody feel less alone while they deal with it and that matters.

We all have moments when we feel frightened, disappointed, exhausted or overwhelmed. We don't always need somebody to fix us. Sometimes we need somebody to sit beside us, listen and remind us that we matter. This is also part of positive thinking. It isn't about pretending that difficult emotions don't exist. It is about recognising them and giving ourselves and other people permission to experience them.

So don't always search for the perfect words. If somebody you care about is struggling, put your arms around them. If they need space, respect that too. Be there in whatever way they need you to be. Because sometimes the most powerful message we can give another person is also the simplest: You're not alone. I'm here.