Oxytocin: Love of Happiness and Trust

Oxytocin: Love of Happiness and Trust

I go for spiritual retreats frequently and one coming thing across all such retreats is the community hugging. Meaning, all attendees of the retreat hug each other. To my surprise, I felt amazingly relaxed and joyful after each hugging. The curiosity to know about the miracle of hugging led to the conclusion that it is oxytocin hormone that plays the key role. Rightfully called ‘Love Hormone’, this hormone is released from the brain when we engage and indulge in activities like sex, breastfeeding, dancing, or anything that brings happiness.
In other words, oxytocin is released in neural response to any activity linked to positive emotion be it a group activity like a Zumba, listening music or heart-touching story, or simply a passionate eye contact.
Your shock is perfectly natural, as was mine. Human emotions are nothing but a complex interplay of oxytocin hormone in association with several other hormones. You can see how important this hormone is in our life, as this decides the level of your happiness. It is not just a ‘Love hormone’, but also a ‘Trust hormone’.
In response to any situation or activity, the human brain releases this hormone in requisite quantity to manage and control physiological stress and makes one more empathic. Depending on the play of oxytocin you feel connected with any person as it makes you more open and trustful. The change in your body language triggers an almost similar response from the opposite end, resulting in better bonding. So, it is oxytocin that makes you reliable and trustworthy.
Several psychological studies have proven it through extensive research that the effectiveness of oxytocin decides the level of happiness in your life. Meaning, the more responsive is the oxytocin release the happier you are. People with higher oxytocin levels normally show a better relationship.
In response to positive interaction, your brain releases optimum oxytocin that boosts your morale to respond positively. This atmosphere of positivity works like wonder in building and strengthening the relationship of all types. You might have observed the prevalence of handshakes in normal social get-togethers and business meetings. Why we do so? The simple answer is that when you touch somebody, like handshakes, the brain releases oxytocin in the right doses. This, in turn, helps in deepening the bond.
Faith and trust are the most important factors in business deals, be it a simple transaction or multi-million dollar joint venture agreement. We need some basic level of safety and security assurance to take the business forward. You need authentic communication to make the client feel safe so that basic trust could be established. If you go for testing the blood samples of that particular situation, you will find that the oxytocin level is above normal, meaning this hormone is highly beneficial in conducting business. You need a better IQ for survival, but even better emotional quotient (EQ) to rise and shine.
If you make a list of successful leaders who are loved by all, you will be surprised to find that it is the empathy of the person that is appreciated most by employees and clients. This sense of connectedness and care motivates all to deliver more than expected.
I have seen the practical of this caring leadership in my daddy. His simple gesture to stand by and support an employee, who was passing through a divorce phase, made him so popular that that particular employee refused several better career opportunities. And that was because of the trust and bond.
Interestingly, oxytocin hormone plays a very crucial role in making the world a better place. Oxytocin makes you more open and communicative; this, in turn, helps in building bonds. In simple words, this miracle hormone is responsible for love and compassion. This makes you more caring and generous. Your oxytocin response system decides whether you will go for charity or not.  Researchers have found that a nasal spray dose of oxytocin improved the willingness of the subject to donate by 80% as compared to those who were given a placebo nasal spray.
Oxytocin is truly a miracle hormone. So, the question is how to boost and control the release of oxytocin. The answer is simple, be good and let the mind do its work in perfect equilibrium.