Our Source of Eternal Happiness

Our dearest connections can be our greatest source of happiness. Research by Nobel laureate Kahneman found that people are happiest when they are with friends. We all crave connections with real human beings.

Experiments show that placebo medicines work better when given by a human than by a robot. In fact, if you need painkillers, you will need double the normal dose if taken from a robotic medicine dispenser than if taken from a nurse.

If you are mentally depressed and in need of therapy, it does not matter which kind of therapy the doctor employs. In fact, it does not even matter what the doctor’s diagnosis is: the doctor could treat you for depression, panic, anxiety, or PTSD; the name of the disease does not matter.

What matters is whether the doctor is capable of establishing a rapport with the patient (apart from the doctor’s expertise). Healing depends on this connection more than anything else.

When people connect and form bonds with others, their bodies release a chemical called oxytocin. This bonding process can help decrease feelings of pain, stress, and suffering. Dr. David Rakel, MD, explains that oxytocin levels may rise when people touch and hug each other.

He points to research showing that people who receive more social support and hugs are less likely to get sick after being exposed to a cold virus compared to those who don't receive as much support or hugs. Oxytocin is also released into the bloodstream of mothers when they hold their babies. No wonder our close connections feel so special.

Building such special connections cannot come from manipulative tactics. They need the very same tactics employed by experienced therapists, although we all are naturally equipped with the ability to learn these skills.