“Your Emotions, Your Command: HIGH ON LIFE (I)”

As we catapult forward in our collective development, understanding, and the world around us, it seems that the one thing many people are having difficulty understanding still is ourselves. In the workplace, we often feel hijacked by our emotions. There may be times you don’t feel like doing anything except for scrolling on the phone even when you have a pile of work to do or are still halfway through a meeting.  This “lack of willpower” is actually closely tied to the chemical substances in our brain.

Swedish neuroscientist David JP Philips proposes an interesting viewpoint in his book, High on Life. He suggests that our brain is like a cocktail, with six primary chemicals blending together to create different emotional combinations. As the “bartender of our own lives,” we can learn to adjust the ratios to mix an Angel’s Cocktail for ourselves instead of a Devil’s Cocktail.

 

Let’s Look at Three Common “Cocktail Ingredients”

First up is Dopamine. This chemical provides you with motivation and pleasure. When you scroll through short videos, binge-watch shows, you feel instant gratification—that’s the power of Fast Dopamine. However, that pleasure is fleeting, and the subsequent feeling of emptiness is often more intense.

 

In contrast, there is Slow Dopamine which is generated through exercise, reading, learning new things, or focusing on completing a project. Though this fulfillment arrives more slowly, it lasts much longer. The possible cause of people couldn’t focus may be because they are overly reliant on the stimulation of Fast Dopamine. When we choose to endure that moment of “unstimulated emptiness,” we are actually paving the way for a deeper and more lasting sense of fulfillment.

 

Next is Oxytocin, also known as the love hormone. It is closely linked to trust, connection, and empathy. That feeling of comfort and security you get when a manager genuinely listens to you or when a colleague lends a helping hand during a crisis—that is Oxytocin at work. The workplace is fundamentally an environment of human interaction. The more we can foster an atmosphere of genuine communication, the stronger the team cohesion will be. Simple actions like making eye contact, listening attentively, or offering a sincere thank you can quietly boost the Oxytocin levels for everyone involved, lowering stress and making collaboration much smoother.

 

Finally, we have Serotonin. This is the source of stability and confidence. Unlike the fleeting excitement of dopamine, the satisfaction delivered by Serotonin is deeper and long-lasting. That feeling of “I am worthy”—which occurs when your efforts are recognized and respected—is the power of Serotonin.

 

Some people are naturally “Dopamine people,” always rushing forward, craving challenges and stimulation. Others are closer to “Serotonin people,” preferring to enjoy stability and the present moment. If you can find the balance between these two, you can maintain vitality without losing your sense of self.

Interestingly, over 90% of our Serotonin is produced in the digestive tract, meaning diet affects our mood more than we think. Some studies even suggest that the artificial sweetener aspartame can reduce both Serotonin and Dopamine, leading to a gradual dip in mood. In other words, what you eat for lunch may well determine your emotional trajectory for the afternoon.

Taking Command of Your Emotional Cocktail

It is hard to be stress-free in the workplace, but we absolutely can learn to become the bartender of our own emotions. When we start to explore our core inner self, that is the first step towards self-emotional leadership. In the next article, I will continue our discussion on the three other key substances that influence our emotions: Cortisol, Endorphins, and Testosterone. Perhaps after reading that, you’ll have a brand-new understanding of your own workplace emotional cocktail.

So, what drink have you mixed for yourself?

 

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