Hidden Brain

A Secret Source of Connection

Most of us think about connection in terms of talking — sharing our experiences, finding common ground, opening up to one another. But researchers have found that one of the most powerful sources of connection isn't talking at all. It's doing things together, side by side, in silence.

Hidden Brain

A Secret Source of Connection

Most people think of listening as a passive activity — something we do while waiting for our turn to speak. But research suggests that feeling truly heard by another person is one of the most powerful experiences we can have. It can change how we think, how we feel about ourselves, and how we relate to others.

Hidden Brain

A Secret Source of Connection

Most of us think of rituals as ceremonies attached to special occasions. But researchers have found that everyday rituals — the small, patterned behaviors we engage in regularly — can be a source of profound connection. Unlike habits, which we perform mindlessly, rituals are imbued with meaning. They signal to others and ourselves that something matters.

Hidden Brain

A Secret Source of Connection

Most of us think of deep conversations as something that requires a close relationship. But research by psychologist Nicholas Epley and his colleagues suggests that even strangers can have meaningful, connecting exchanges — and that we systematically underestimate how much others will appreciate our attempts to go deep.

TED

1 Thing You Can Do Today to Be Happier | Sonja Lyubomirsky | TED

We will feel more loved if we become more known, if we learn to talk to people in a way that takes down the walls between us.

TED

1 Thing You Can Do Today to Be Happier | Sonja Lyubomirsky | TED

The key to happiness is feeling connected and loved. And I know that sounds like a cliché, but many powerful ideas do once you distill them.