Surprising as it might sound, a natural high is actually a scientifically validated concept and recognized by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
Humans have a natural attraction and drive for states of extreme happiness, exhilaration, and euphoria.
It's totally understandable. Who doesn't want to feel very well?
However, in many cases, people take shortcuts on their path to the definitive feel-good state by using quick fixes for their life issues.
The non-natural ways are various. They can be chemically-induced medicine, alcohol, or drugs.
These artificial and harmful roads to intense happiness or detachment from daily living don't generally end well.
They might simulate the ultimate pleasure we're seeking, but their consequences are disastrous for the body and mind.
The same applies to our dependence on smartphones, screens, and virtually endless social media feeds.
A natural way is the other path to a fulfilled, pleasurable, well-lived, intense life. And the great thing about it is that it is free, healthy, and builds up physical well-being.
What is the Meaning, and How Does a Natural High Work?
A natural high is a state of elation caused mainly by a natural mood enhancer and pain reliever called endorphins.
The human body releases them whenever we engage in physical (and mental) activities like sports, laughter, meditation, listening to music, creative expression, acupuncture, etc.
It's the feeling a surfer gets after riding a wave or walking up the beach after a wave-riding session.
Curiously, it could generate addiction, just like with drugs, but in a healthy way. It overrides anxiety and boredom and gets anyone naturally high.
The peak effect is temporary, but in most cases, it is more prolonged than that of drugs and chemical substances.
The feeling of a natural high is unmatched.
Actively Promoting the Healthy State of Elation
Natural High is a US-based nonprofit organization.
It is dedicated to drug and alcohol abuse prevention among youth by helping them discover and embrace their own natural high, meaning the passions, interests, and meaningful activities that uplift, motivate, and inspire - not substances.
The organization was founded by Jon Sundt, who lost his two brothers to addiction and turned his personal tragedy into a mission to help youth choose healthier lives.
Today, Natural High's content is used by millions of young people across all 50 US states and is supported by tens of thousands of educators.
Kelly Slater: "Drugs and Alcohol Were a Non-starter For Me"
Kelly Slater, Tony Hawk, and Bethany Hamilton have spoken out about the need to promote this incredibly exciting and positive mindset.
"The first real surf stoke I remember, I was eight years old," revealed Slater.
"I caught this wave and did a few turns on my backhand, and I kind of straightened out and looked over. My dad was smiling. And I was thinking, 'That was pretty cool.'"
"I remember, at a young age, her telling me how my grandfather drank a lot. And I didn't know what that meant. I was like, 'I drink it?' She was like, 'No, like he drinks alcohol.' I was like, 'Oh, I didn't know that was even a thing.'"
"As a kid, you know, my mom just hammered it into my head: 'Look around you. I'll be surprised if we ever see anyone successful who's an alcoholic or does drugs. It just doesn't lead anywhere good. Put your energy into what you love.'"
"I never even thought of smoking a joint or doing any kind of drugs growing up. It just wasn't in my wheelhouse."
"I wasn't around people who influenced me that way. I didn't like to hang out with people who did drugs."
"At some point at a young age, I decided I wanted to make an impact in surfing as a whole, and I felt that I could do that. There was the opportunity for it."
"But I knew it wasn't gonna happen if I was doing things that were gonna hold me back. The drugs and alcohol thing was just a non-starter for me."
Bethany Hamilton: "One Girl I Looked Up to Lost It"
Kelly's story truly inspires us to chase a non-artificially induced high life. Bethany Hamilton also has stories to share.
"A lot of the good surfers that I grew up surfing with, that were my age, some of them did choose to do drugs."
"And for me, it wasn't really a hard decision not to, because I saw the negative effect it had on them."
"One particular girl, who I really looked up to - she was an amazing surfer - she chose to get into this drug scene, and she lost it."
"I still see her every now and then, and my heart just breaks, just knowing that she was so talented. She was the one that I wanted to surf like. And I saw her lose that love and passion and natural ability."
Tony Hawk: "'I Didn't Want Anything That Was Gonna Make Me Skate Worse"
Tony Hawk is probably the world's most famous skateboarder. But it was not fame that he chased when he started sidewalk surfing.
"I knew skateboarding was my natural high very early on, once I started to learn my own set of tricks instead of creating my own style of skating. I never felt the buzz like that in my life."
"I remember getting exposed to drugs and alcohol at a very young age because I was already traveling the world at age 14 and 15."
"And so I was thrown into the mix with a much older crew - ones that were already very well-versed in partying."
"And I didn't understand it, because it felt like it affected their performance. And that's when it gave me pause, because I was like, 'I don't want to do anything that's gonna make me skate worse.'"
"Natural high lifestyle, to me, means being present in the moment, having a clear mind, and enjoying what you do on a physical level or on a mental level."
"I think a natural high can help people believe in themselves and learn to navigate their life without trying to distract with drugs and alcohol."
"And I believe that's hugely important."
"When you're someone who is off of that stuff at an early age, it's sometimes hard to deny, it's hard to think that you're not gonna fit in if you don't just fade into that."
"But just know that there's a whole other group and a whole other life out there that you're gonna be proud of if you don't."
Natural highs are for real and give you joy, motivation, and a sense of fulfillment in a safe, sustainable way.
Find your stoke. Boost your feel-good levels.
Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com
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