We’re all looking for pure bliss and resounding ecstasy. We want to drop our worries and feel alive, feel connected to the magic of this world. All too often, though, this desire results in the abuse of alcohol, drugs and other legal or illegal substances. In using or abusing these substances, the user often does more harm than good.

But alcohol and drugs are completely unnecessary and actually quite costly to both your body and your wallet. There’s another way.

It’s natural. It’s safe. It’s free. It’s legal and always available to you.  I’m talking about natural highs.

Read On!>>>

I started to have them at the end of November and began testing different variables to induce and sustain them. Some days, my singular goal was to have a natural high. And you know what? I succeeded. Here’s what you need to know so you can, too.

It’s a state of consciousness.
That said, know that there’s some internal work you have to do–mentally and emotionally. You have to be prepared to do the work and you have to know that the end result–euphoric and glowing bliss, expanded creativity, increased energy–is possible.

Lowered mental or emotional states blow highs.
When I succeeded in attaining a natural high, if my mental or emotional state changed to a lower frequency energy, the intensity of the high would decrease or I’d lose it altogether. Emotional mastery is a lifelong quest, but the more you practice it, the better you get. You have to learn to determine your mood and protect it from external offenders (circumstances, other people) as well as internal offenders (reactionary thoughts or feelings).

Release negativity, embrace positivity.
Indulging in negative thoughts and feelings is counterproductive. Extend empathy and practice both forgiveness and gratitude.

Forgiveness Practice
My forgiveness practice is simple. Get comfortable, close your eyes, and envision someone you’re holding resentment towards. Imagine that person being all alone and dealing with the weight of their stuff. Everyone’s got something: some pain, some insecurity, some regret. Envision that person when they’re by themselves, with no mask on, facing their issues. Think about your own pain, insecurity and regret and identify with them. Allow the spirit in you to see the spirit in them.

Then, imagine a white light surrounding you and a pink light glowing from your heart. Remind yourself of your infinite capacity to love and forgive, then recall those feelings of empathy for the person you resent. Imagine that pink light extending from your heart to theirs while continuing to remind yourself of your infinite capacity to love and forgive. I usually see myself embracing this person in a really tender moment, filled with empathy and love. I understand that they’re not perfect, that they’re not always who they want to be, and that they’re dealing with their own issues regardless of the persona they put forth. Hold this image in your head for as long as it takes for those feelings of empathy, forgiveness, and love to truly emerge.

Will you walk away having completely forgiven the person? Maybe. Maybe not. It’s highly contingent upon the circumstances of the situation, how deep your pain is, how empathic you are, etc. But will this exercise soften your heart a bit? You bet.

Gratitude PracticeI use the gratitude practice I learned from Michele Wahlder’s Alphatudes, which utilizes the ABCs to create a gratitude list. The list can be as elementary or complex as you’d like; it’s your practice. If you’re grateful for apples, or botanical gardens or your charisma, it’s your world. Really. I often challenge myself by choosing a theme. I list what I’m grateful for about myself, or others, or about my job. Even if I use the same theme, I’ll usually make myself choose different things to appreciate. By the time you get to ‘z’, you’re sure to be buzzing with excitement and appreciation.

Relax.
Keep your cool. I can be prone to anxiety and quit to react, but if I want to get or keep a natural high, I have to chill out, be more accepting, forgiving, and patient. If someone does something annoying, I let it go. Whatever man, it’s cool. Because, really, does it matter?
Don’t sweat the small stuff.

Find –and deliver– the good.
Look for and embrace the positive and the beauty in yourself, in others, and in the world. What you focus on truly does expand, so set your sights on something more expansive: the good! Anticipate it being returned to you. Be the bearer of it to others. Though they may engage in negativity, show them the upside, or at least make sure you’re aware of it so you don’t succumb to their emotional state. However, sharing your good mood really is a blessing from you to others, regardless of how (or if) they take it.

Finding the good is a process of creating meaning. Find the lessons in the bigger picture. Sure, you’ve made mistakes. Sure, things aren’t “perfect”. But what positives can you take away from those situations? There’s always something. If you have to reach, reach, but create meaning that you can honestly connect to. It truly is your world. Do what makes you feel good.

Be present.
Be here now. Live in the moment. Be excited and thankful for the moment and all it has to offer you. Believe it’s for your highest good, no matter how challenging or painful things may be.

Have faith.
The magic truly is in the making. I never wanted to sound like some new age hippie talking about mystical, intangible concepts like energy and karma. But I suppose I am. I believe in the magnetism of all energy and that like does attract like. I believe that the energy you emit is the energy you receive so I try to remain conscious of the energy I’m emitting. Things happen by matter of faith for everyone, but are you giving your faith to your greatest hopes or your greatest fears? Go for the hopes. And be excited.

Natural highs are possible, but they do require some work. However, I never regretted any of the emotional or mental adjustments I had to make regardless of whether they resulted in attaining or maintaining a feeling of euphoria or not. So positive, free, and progressive. Sounds like a combination worth embracing.

Good luck! Please share your experiences.

UPDATE: Someone recently introduced me to a book called Get High Now (without drugs) by James Nestor. For more information, go to www.gethighnow.com.