When my communications coach asked me how I come down off the high of giving a keynote, I was perplexed because I had never tried to actively come down off that feeling. That discussion got me thinking about natural highs, which I explore in this episode of If I’m Honest with Julia Landauer. I talk about the euphoric feeling of a natural high, the science behind how our brains produce this sensation, and things we can do in our day-to-day lives to capture that feeling. I also explain things like where the word “endorphin” comes from, what endocannabinoids are, and things to watch out for. I then pivot to a broader discussion around pleasure; specifically, our cultural tendency to minimize pleasure, why I think that’s problematic, and the greater impact it has on our lives. Because why would we try to minimize things that bring us joy and happiness, especially when the world can be so cruel and dark? Lastly, I share a call to action for how to maximize our chances of feeling joy, happiness, and pleasure.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addition, contact The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) 1-800-662-HELP (4357) and https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline

You can also call 988 or 911 in the case of an emergency.

Research for this episode:

https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/you-had-a-big-win-at-work-but-that-was-last-month-6a9a0039?mod=djem10point https://www.chapmanrehab.com/post/whats-a-natural-high#:~:text=A%20natural%20high%20is%20actually,without%20the%20use%20of%20drugs.

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-truth-behind-runners-high-and-other-mental-benefits-of-running

Learn more about Julia Landauer at https://julialandauer.com/