We often view emotions like gratitude and awe as secondary to our physical health, but they are actually vital evolutionary mechanisms for survival. There is a deep biological tension between our modern ego-centric lifestyle and the physiological need for collective connection.

Dacher Keltner explains how specific emotional states function as regulators for our internal systems, helping to calm the heart and aid digestion. By experiencing vast mysteries, we activate the vagus nerve and reduce the body's inflammation levels, providing a biological anchor against the stress of modern life.

• The mechanism by which vast mysteries reduce activation in the inflammation-producing cytokine system.
• How the "vanishing ego" liberates individuals from the stress of overestimating their own importance.
• The role of physical touc ...