Many of us sense that there’s more to life beyond the five senses. We may glimpse an awareness of something amazing and mysterious that transcends the self. We may seek greater meaning in our lives or feel we’re here for a purpose greater than ourselves. We may yearn to experience connection with each other or with something larger than any of us as individuals.

According to a growing body of scientific findings, we are wired for connection. The human brain is innately equipped with the capacity to connect (Fredrickson, 2013; Miller, 2021). And for many people, some form of personal spirituality or transcending the human self is an important contributor to well-being. It can build our resilience, our ability to cope with stress, and our capacity to cultivate character strengths and pursue life goals (Niemiec, Russo-Netzer, and Pargament, 2020; Vieten and Lukoff, 2022).

There are many pathways to create a connection. The research of psychologist Barbara Fredrickson, Ph.D., has shown that experiencing even casual moments of connection with other people can improve well-being, health, and longevity (Fredrickson, 2013). She coined the term positivity resonance, explaining that........

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