To Connect Is to Be Human. Can We Relearn How?
Can we still stay connected with ourselves and each other, rather than racing around, driven by ever-present algorithms, AI and the rules of capitalism?
Is it still possible to find spaces where we connect with other people and feel truly present?
And as the world seems more fragmented, lonely and divisive than ever, can we still feel a sense of shared humanity with each person we meet?
Maybe you know the shadow version too. You want deeper connection, but not to overshare. People drain your social battery, and then the loneliness creeps in.
Join us as we explore the risk of disconnection in our world today, and try a simple practice that helps. 🟠
In this free 75-minute interactive session, we'll explore:
The attention economy and the brain: what constant distraction does to our focus, and to our closeness with others.
Loneliness beyond mental health: what it reveals about how we live, and how the world is responding to it.
Contemplative wisdom meeting the moment: how these practices are transforming, and why this goes deeper than learning social and emotional skills.
Optional, feel it for yourself: a simple, research-based listening practice with another person.
Your hosts
Monika Jiang: writer and community builder working on (l)oneliness with The Oneliness Project.
Peter Bonanno: mindfulness trainer, social entrepreneur and communications lead at the Thich Nhat Hanh School of Interbeing.
About
This session is brought to you by Daily Connect, an evidence-based practice and global community co-founded by Monika Jiang, Peter Bonanno, Debora Gama Lima, and Siri Chandler. Every day, members meet a fellow practitioner online for 15 minutes of structured reflection and deep listening, a practice grounded in social neuroscience research at the Max Planck Society.