Oxytocin boosts (hooray!)

"Everything is Connected" collage by Lani, textures by FlyPaper,

There's a hormone called oxytocin, which Dr. Paul Zak calls The Moral Molecule.  (His Ted Talk is here.)  He's a professor of economic psychology and management at Claremont Graduate University and one of the world's foremost experts on oxytocin.  His research includes positive social relationships, health, and the production of oxytocin and he's got some pretty easy prescriptions to help us train our brains to release more oxytocin. (My elephant likes this idea a LOT)

Sex and cuddling, of course, are top oxytocin producers but if you want some additional boosters, here are that Dr. Zak highly recommends. (Gleaned from Prevention and Midlifexpress)

* Hug 8 times a day

* Call your mom 

* Get a dog (or two, twice the oxytocin, twice the party)

* Modify your handshake:  One hand over the other. Making eye contact also makes the connection more powerful.

* Get a massage

* Watch a tearjerker (this one seems to have the biggest boost in clinical settings)

* Sing

* Go dancing

* Go to weddings

* Have a big, thrilling adventure (bungee jumping, roller coaster riding, or out to see a scary flick) 

* Go for long walks

* Treat people decently

* Treat your friend to a meal or a coffee break

* Be trustworthy

* Increase eye contact

* Use the word LOVE (as in I love you, and I do!)

* Check friends and family's Facebook pages

* Watch or listen to a stand-up comic