Jennifer Aniston has Hollywood buzzing with her surprising new romance with hypnotherapist Jim Curtis, just days after a PDA-filled yacht date in Mallorca. The beloved Friends actress, now 56, appears to be entering a new chapter of her life — one that is more introspective, spiritually aligned, and quietly powerful. Sources close to Aniston reveal that her connection with Curtis is “very different” from her previous high-profile relationships and that she’s “in a very good place right now.”

Multiple insiders confirmed to People that Aniston and Curtis have been “casually dating and having fun” for a few months. The two were introduced by a mutual friend and started out as friends, with a shared interest in wellness and personal growth forming the foundation of their budding relationship. Aniston, who has long been passionate about self-help and emotional healing, was already familiar with Curtis’s work before they became romantically involved. She had read his book, Shift: Quantum Manifestation Guide, and had been following him on social media for nearly two years, engaging with his motivational posts and affirmations.

Unlike her past relationships with actors Brad Pitt and Justin Theroux, Curtis isn’t a Hollywood insider. Instead, he’s a hypnotherapist and life coach who champions a practice he calls “hypno-realization,” designed to help individuals break free from limiting beliefs and rewrite their personal narratives. This fresh dynamic between them appears to be deeply rooted in mutual growth and emotional intelligence, qualities Aniston’s friends say she’s long valued but rarely found in past partners.

Their relationship made headlines after the pair were spotted looking incredibly affectionate aboard a luxury yacht during the Fourth of July weekend. In images that quickly circulated online, Aniston was seen resting her hand on Curtis’s thigh, holding hands, and leaning into him as they laughed and mingled with close friends like Courteney Cox, Olivia Wilde, Amy Schumer, and Jason Bateman. One moment even showed Curtis gently stroking her hair — a quiet, tender display that spoke volumes about their intimacy.

It’s not the first time they’ve escaped together either. Last month, the couple enjoyed a romantic retreat to Ventana Big Sur, an exclusive eco-resort known for its focus on wellness and natural luxury. The two were spotted cuddling during dinner at the resort’s restaurant, giving more evidence of their growing bond. A source said their time together has been filled with “a meeting of minds,” noting that Aniston feels incredibly connected to Curtis thanks to their shared commitment to doing “inner work.”

In April, Aniston revealed she had been exploring hypnosis as a means of overcoming her fear of flying — a disclosure that, in hindsight, might have been a subtle nod to Curtis’s influence. He’s open about his personal journey of transformation, having endured years of debilitating nerve pain that eventually led him down the path of mindfulness and alternative healing. His background, which includes a turning point during college when a professor introduced him to meditation, stands in contrast to the Hollywood-centric lifestyles of Aniston’s former partners.

Curtis’s Instagram, where he shares affirmations and healing messages with over half a million followers, is regularly liked by Aniston. One post she recently engaged with encouraged readers to “heal and recover from a breakup or divorce and begin to call in new empowered, healthy love.” That sentiment mirrors the emotional maturity and intention behind Aniston’s new relationship — one that seems grounded in both self-awareness and a shared vision for a meaningful connection.

Despite their closeness, Aniston is reportedly taking things slow. Friends say she’s happy and hopeful but remains cautious. Her journey hasn’t been without heartbreak — two divorces and a candid admission in 2022 that her efforts at IVF were unsuccessful. “It was a challenging road,” she said at the time. “I would’ve given anything if someone had said to me, ‘Freeze your eggs.’ But I have zero regrets.”

That resilience and self-acceptance are perhaps what make her current romance all the more poignant. Aniston isn’t chasing a fantasy or reliving past mistakes — she’s moving forward with authenticity. Her fans, and even her friends, are taking notice. “Those who have met Jim think they’re a perfect match,” a source shared. “There’s a calmness about him, and Jen lights up around him.”

Whether or not this new relationship lasts, one thing is clear: Jennifer Aniston is embracing a new kind of love — one that starts from within and feels more real than ever before.