Missed last week’s insights on Why Your Brain Is Lying To You? Here’s the link to catch up before diving into this week’s edition.

A New Frontier in Human Potential

In our last exploration of happiness, we uncovered how mindset, biology, and environment influence our ability to experience joy and fulfillment. We discovered how our brain's negativity bias, three-brain intelligence system (brain, heart, and gut), and our dietary choices all play crucial roles in our capacity for happiness and resilience. But happiness doesn't exist in isolation—it's deeply intertwined with our connections to others and the inner states of our mind.

Since I started my own personal journey into Buddhism on the one hand (the "spiritual" one) and quantum physics and biology on the other (the "scientific" one), I realized how everything is actually connected into one single and consistent narrative. We humans are constantly seeking happiness, everyone deserves it but we have been tricked on how to get there (or get it from—that's what society, since the institutionalization of religions, would tell you!). How to go back to a personal and sustainable journey to find happiness? Remember how to be human.

These two elements—connection and altered states—have been central to human development for millennia. Ancient traditions recognized their transformative power, whether through communal rituals or practices that expanded consciousness. Today, modern science is catching up, providing groundbreaking insights into why these tools work and how they can be used to improve resilience, focus, and fulfillment.

In this article, we'll explore how deepening our connections and responsibly exploring psychedelics can enhance performance, foster creativity, and unlock hidden potential—building directly on the foundation of happiness techniques we discussed previously. This is the next step in the journey toward building a life that blends happiness with purpose-driven achievement.

The Science of Connection: Why Relationships Fuel Resilience

Humans are inherently social beings. Our brains are wired for connection, and our ability to thrive often depends on the quality of our relationships. Neuroscientific studies show that when we engage in meaningful social interactions, our brains release oxytocin, the "bonding hormone," which reduces stress, boosts trust, and enhances emotional resilience. This directly counters the negativity bias we discussed in our previous article by creating positive neural pathways.

The Harvard Study of Adult Development, one of the longest-running studies on human happiness, found that strong relationships are the most significant predictor of a fulfilling and healthy life. People with close, meaningful connections had lower levels of chronic illness, reported higher satisfaction, and even lived longer. Contrast this with the health risks of social isolation, which has been found to increase the likelihood of early death by 29%, according to a meta-analysis published in PLOS Medicine.

Building deeper connections isn't just about having more friends. It's about being present, actively listening, and creating environments where trust and collaboration thrive. When talking to founders during my interviews for the Founder Bible for Resilience project, this is extremely clear. Everyone I talked to, myself included, immediately cite family, close friends and their co-founders as the key to mental resilience. We are all, consciously or unconsciously, building our support system by surrounding ourselves of people we trust. It's therefore paramount to select and build this network carefully!

(And here a small note for all of us high achievers: if in doubt on whether to choose from a night out with your dear one, or a long night at work, please choose the first one! At least 51% of the times you are faced with this choice. It will save your life!)

The Connection-Consciousness Bridge: How Social Ties and Mental States Interact

Before we dive into psychedelics, it's important to understand how connection and consciousness expansion work together as complementary forces. The quality of our connections directly impacts our mental state, while our level of consciousness affects how we relate to others.

Research from the field of interpersonal neurobiology, pioneered by Dr. Dan Siegel, shows that our brains are literally shaped by our relationships. When we engage in deep, meaningful connections, our neural architecture adapts, creating more pathways for empathy, emotional regulation, and creativity—the same pathways that are activated during altered states of consciousness.

This interconnection explains why both deep human connection and consciousness-expanding experiences often lead to similar outcomes: increased empathy, reduced ego-centricity, and a greater sense of meaning and purpose. They are two sides of the same coin, each amplifying the other's effects.

By understanding this relationship, we can see why many ancient traditions combined communal rituals with consciousness-altering practices—they intuitively recognized the synergistic power of these two elements for human growth and development.

Psychedelics: Unlocking the Mind's Hidden Potential

(Another note! Here I'm finally convincing myself that it's about time for me to share more about possibly "controversial" topics and techniques to access altered states of mind. I did my own bunch of experiences, and I'm a big believer in alternative medicine. BUT I'm by no means pushing you to pursue any of the following actions if you don't want to. I was skeptical too at the beginning, and it's very important that each of us practice these methods once they are ready for them! And yes, not everyone is ready to practice them.)

Psychedelics, long dismissed as taboo, are making a resurgence in scientific and entrepreneurial circles. Substances like psilocybin, LSD, and MDMA are now being studied for their ability to treat mental health conditions and catalyze profound personal and professional breakthroughs.

At the heart of psychedelics' potential lies their ability to dissolve the default mode network (DMN) in the brain, the region responsible for self-referential thinking and ego. According to research led by Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris at Imperial College London, this quieting of the DMN enables a state of cognitive flexibility, allowing for new perspectives, enhanced creativity, and deeper emotional insights—directly countering the rigid thinking patterns created by the negativity bias we discussed in Part 1. A study published in Nature Medicine found that psilocybin-assisted therapy significantly reduced depressive symptoms in 71% of participants, even months after treatment.

For high-performing individuals, psychedelics offer a chance to break through mental blocks, process trauma, or simply explore new dimensions of thought. For me the key ones have been first and foremost psilocybin (the active principle in magic mushrooms) and DMT (in my case the one contained in Ayahuasca). Besides the first casual use of psilocybin at parties and some outdoors hikes, my most memorable healing experience was during a 40 days protocol of micro-dosing where I've been followed by an expert therapist. During this month and a half of work, I was able to fully break down my remaining biases from childhood power dynamics (masculine and feminine energy balancing), hence building a completely new sense of self and self-belief.

As per DMT, well, this medicine is the whole reason why I'm writing this newsletter and how I decided to leave my previous company to build on my renewed mission of helping people unleash their highest potential through science and ancient wisdom!

Important Considerations and Contraindications

While psychedelics offer profound potential, they aren't appropriate for everyone. Those with a personal or family history of psychosis, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder should generally avoid these substances. Similarly, individuals taking certain medications, particularly ones connected to mental disorders or disabilities, should consult medical professionals before considering psychedelic experiences due to potential interactions.

Remember that set (mindset) and setting (environment) are crucial factors in determining the quality and safety of a psychedelic experience. Working with qualified guides in legal contexts is strongly recommended, especially for those new to these substances.

Integrating Connection and Psychedelics for Peak Performance

The most profound insights often come when connection and altered states intersect, creating a powerful synergy that exceeds what either can achieve alone. This integration mirrors the three-brain model we explored in Part 1, where optimal functioning comes from aligning our different intelligence centers.

Indigenous traditions, for instance, have long used plant medicine in communal rituals to foster collective healing and visioning. Modern applications are now emerging, where team-building retreats and leadership workshops incorporate mindfulness, connection exercises, and—where legal—psychedelic-assisted sessions.

Research shows that integrating psychedelics into group settings can enhance empathy, strengthen bonds, and catalyze shared purpose. A 2022 study in Frontiers in Psychology revealed that participants in psilocybin retreats reported improved interpersonal understanding and greater clarity in their professional lives.

For founders and leaders, this can translate into creating visionary strategies, resolving team conflicts, or simply rediscovering the joy of collaboration. However, even without psychedelics, blending practices like mindfulness and intentional connection can achieve similar benefits.

(Yet another note, but I promise it'll be last one! I'm planning to build a private community of founders and investors to discuss these topics further and eventually organize specific retreats around the world, working with my dear friends and medicine-guides whom I worked with personally in the past. If you are interested in this, reply to this email and let me know! This way I can share more details on what's coming.)

From Happiness to Potential: Completing the Circle

In our previous article, we explored how training your brain to overcome negativity bias, managing digital overload, optimizing your diet, and integrating your three-brain intelligence could create a foundation for genuine happiness. Now, we've expanded that framework to include connection and altered states as tools for unlocking even greater potential.

This complete circle—from internal happiness practices to external connection and expanded consciousness—creates a comprehensive approach to human flourishing that addresses our full range of needs:

1. Foundation: Biological optimization (diet, stress management, three-brain integration)

2. Structure: Connection and relationship building (deep bonds, community, collaboration)

3. Expansion: Consciousness exploration (mindfulness, flow states, psychedelics)

When all three elements work in harmony, we experience what ancient traditions called "wholeness" and what modern psychology might term "self-actualization"—the fullest expression of our human potential.

The Future of Human Potential

Optimizing performance isn't just about doing more—it's about connecting deeper, thinking clearer, and acting with purpose. Whether through the power of relationships or the mind-expanding effects of psychedelics, the tools we choose to explore can redefine how we live and work.

Happiness, creativity, and resilience are not fixed traits; they're skills we can cultivate with the right strategies, as we've explored across both articles in this series. Start small. Build a meaningful connection, reflect on your goals, or explore resources that align with your curiosity. The journey toward human potential is infinite, and the tools to unlock it are within your reach.