The Connection Between Morphine and Solopreneurial Success

I’m high on morphine right now.

Let me explain.

I just spent 3 hours playing golf. This followed four months when I rarely ventured outside except to walk the dog, shovel the snow and walk to the mailbox. This morning I walked the hilly golf course (about 5 miles) and carried my golf bag (about 30 pounds). My body was working hard.

Right now it’s 30 minutes after I finished my round and my brain feels really, really, REALLY good.

This is where the drugs come in. I promise.

I used to be a runner and would experience “runner’s high,” caused by the endorphins coursing through my body. The post-golf euphoria today feels like “runner’s high,” so I Googled the term and found this in the article “Heroin in the Brain Its Chemistry and Effects”:

“In 1972 brain researchers from Johns Hopkins University made a puzzling discovery that would illuminate scientists’ understanding of drug addiction. They found that the human brain’s neurons had specific receptor sites for opiate drugs: opium, heroin, codeine and morphine. But then there was the obvious question. Why would nature put in our brains a receptor for a plant? The scientists reasoned there must be some other function for these receptor sites. They soon figured out that the active ingredient in all these opiates—morphine—had a chemical structure similar to endorphins, a class of chemicals present in the brain.”

So, strenuous exercise can make you feel like you’re doing drugs, but what does it mean for you and your business? Here’s the answer, from Kay Christopher, a productivity coach who used to be a psychotherapist:

“When endorphins flood your body you feel more relaxed and more able to take on challenges. You feel more cheerful and optimistic, and are easier to get along with than when you have a lot of “stress chemicals” floating around in your body…In the positive state of mind induced by endorphins you are better able to make good decisions, envision possible future scenarios, relate well with others, deal with conflict and stress, and take positive action. How do you keep these mood-enhancing endorphins around? By engaging in activities such as laughing, exercising, listening to soothing music, meditating and eating chocolate!”

The takeaway for our solopreneur lives is: laugh more, move your body, listen to soothing tunes, meditate and EAT CHOCOLATE!