The Adorable Secret to Hugh Jackman's 21-Year Marriage
Hugh Jackman has revealed that the secret to his 21-year marriage to Deborra-Lee Furness is that they meditate together.
The couple that meditates together stays together. So proclaims Hugh Jackman, who has been married to wife Deborra-Lee Furness for more than 21 years (which in Hollywood time is pretty much an eternity). The actor believes spirituality is the key to a healthy relationship — and science backs him up.
Jackman and Furness, who met while filming the 1995 film "Corelli," are in agreement about what makes their marriage work. "Meditation!" Jackman recently told People. "We meditate together," added his wife. "And sometimes we have friends over to do it too. It's a lovely Sunday-morning thing. Everyone comes over, and then we have breakfast."
A 2017 study conducted at the Max Planck Institute in Germany determined that "dyadic meditation," a practice that involves two people mediating together, will result in them not only feeling closer but also more open with others.
While pairings in the study were totally random and individuals were not matched with their significant others, participants felt closer to their study partners over time and were more comfortable sharing personal details of their lives with them.
"By increasing feelings of closeness, and by encouraging people to reach out to others through self-disclosure, we are laying a groundwork to prevent loneliness in the future," explained lead author Bethany E. Kok.
How much time per day should you spend meditating with your partner? About as long as it takes you to shower in the morning. For this study in particular, individuals spent 10 minutes per day, five days a week for nine months, and researchers claim that within weeks they were sharing more "personal and intimate stories."
In addition to the benefits you can reap from meditating with someone else, incorporating the practice into your daily routine can improve spirituality, relieve stress and anxiety and also help you reach personal goals. Some research has even claimed that it can help reduce blood pressure and decrease the time duration of the flu.
So whether you are looking to nurture a healthy relationship with your significant other or just looking for personal peace, meditation is always a good idea.
What Do YOU Think?
Do you meditate with your partner? Do you think it helps foster intimacy? How do you nurture a healthy relationship with your significant other?