The Power of Having Fun

CHAPTER 14

Stage Five: Enjoying Family Oases

Just as we did when we learned about acknowledging our Personal Oasis, let’s acknowledge the Oases we share with loved ones. While dopamine helps us increase our desire to succeed every time we experience it, oxytocin and a variety of other chemicals have a role in creating a bond between us and others.

Oxytocin is sometimes referred to as the “cuddle hormone.” It facilitates bonding between people, such as a parent to a child or a spouse to a spouse. For most people, it doesn’t take hours of hugging or even person-to-person interaction to generate a feeling of closeness. A study by Grewen, Anderson, ...