In this episode of The Brainy Business podcast, you'll join host Melina Palmer as she delves into the fascinating world of the four DOSE brain chemicals: dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins. Melina's passion for understanding the inner workings of the brain led her to explore how these chemicals impact our emotional well-being and motivation. 

As she breaks down each chemical and its role, you'll gain valuable insights into how they influence your daily life. Melina dispels the myth that we should always be happy and instead explains how these chemicals are designed to promote survival. By understanding the power of these chemicals, you'll be equipped to optimize your own emotional well-being and motivation. So, if you're looking to increase your fulfillment and success by harnessing the power of your brain, this episode is definitely worth a listen. Get ready to uncover the secrets behind your brain's chemical reactions and discover how to leverage them for a more fulfilling life.

In this episode, you will:

• Understand the role of dopamine in motivation and unlock the key to sustainable drive and achievement.
• Discover how building trust and connection through oxytocin can enhance your relationships and improve overall well-being.
• Boost your confidence and belief with serotonin, and unlock your true potential.
• Learn how to harness the power of endorphins for emotional well-being and experience increased happiness and fulfillment.
• Gain valuable insights on how to optimize your brain chemicals for increased motivation, success, and overall well-being.

Show Notes:

00:00:00 - Introduction, Melina introduces the topic of the episode, which is a deep dive into the four happy chemicals in the brain known as the dose brain chemicals: dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins. She also mentions her upcoming conversation with Dr. Ian Robertson about dopamine and confidence. 00:02:18 - The Purpose of the Dose Brain Chemicals The brain chemicals dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins are not naturally there to make us feel good, but rather to promote survival. They have become more easily accessible in our modern world, leading to tolerance and the need for more stimulation. 00:04:27 - Dopamine and Anticipation Dopamine is released in the brain during anticipation and motivation. It is not the item or reward itself that gives us dopamine, but the drive to obtain it. Unnatural levels of dopamine from things like sugar and social media can lead to addiction and decreased satisfaction with natural rewards. 00:07:36 - The Impact of Unnatural Dopamine Levels Our modern lives are flooded with unnatural levels of dopamine from various sources, such as junk food, social media, and video games. This can lead to a decrease in motivation for natural rewards. Detoxing from these unnatural sources can help reset our brain's dopamine expectations. 00:10:59 - Training Your Brain for Natural Rewards By cutting out unnatural sources of dopamine and embracing new goals, we can help train our brains to find rewards in more natural ways. 00:16:33 - Building Trust and Oxytocin Opening yourself up to trust is key for survival and critical for the release of oxytocin. Start small, set realistic expectations, and build trust through successful commitments. 00:18:03 - Serotonin and the Need for Respect Serotonin is about confidence, social status, and belief in your own abilities. Embrace the need for respect without becoming a narcissist. Focus on the positive feedback from others and believe in your own value. 00:21:51 - Endorphins and the Importance of Pain Endorphins are released in response to pain. While exercise is a common way to release endorphins, laughter and stretching can also trigger their release. Be cautious not to chase the endorphin high and put yourself in harm's way. 00:26:10 - Cortisol and Managing Stress Cortisol is released in response to threats or fears. Constantly masking cortisol with positive experiences can lead to increased production. Allow yourself to feel cortisol and accept the natural ebb and flow of brain chemicals. 00:27:41 - Conclusion, Melina's top insights from the conversation. What stuck with you while listening to the episode? What are you going to try? Come share it with Melina on social media -- you'll find her as @thebrainybiz everywhere and as Melina Palmer on LinkedIn.

Thanks for listening. Don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show. 

I hope you love everything recommended via The Brainy Business! Everything was independently reviewed and selected by me, Melina Palmer. So you know, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you decide to shop from the links on this page (via Amazon or others), The Brainy Business may collect a share of sales or other compensation.

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Learn and Support The Brainy Business:

Check out and get your copies of Melina’s Books. 

Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode:

• How Confidence Works, by Ian Robertson
• Indistractable, by Nir Eyal
• The Truth About Pricing, by Melina Palmer
• Good Habits, Bad Habits, by Wendy Wood
• Blindsight, by Matt Johnson and Prince Ghuman

Top Recommended Next Episode: Wendy Wood Interview (Ep 127)

Already Heard That One? Try These: 

• Herding (ep 264)
• Habits (ep 256)
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• Apple Card (ep 42)
• Biases Toward Novelty and Stories (ep 54)
• Surprise and Delight (ep 60)
• How to Get (and Stay) Motivated (ep 67)
• How to Set, Achieve & Exceed Brainy Goals (ep 70)
• Interview With Author Nir Eyal (ep 78)
• Why Our Brains Love Nostalgia & Traditions (ep 79)
• How to Finally Change Your Behavior (So it Sticks) (ep 81)
• Focusing Illusion (ep 89)
• Confirmation Bias (ep 102)
• How To Use Behavioral Economics to Create Thriving Cities (ep 113)
• Interview with Bec Weeks (ep 119)
• Prince Ghuman (ep 172)
• Matt Johnson Interview (ep 160)
• Truth About Pricing (ep 356)

Other Important Links: 

• Brainy Bites - Melina’s LinkedIn Newsletter
• How I Tricked My Brain To Like Doing Hard Things (Dopamine Detox)
• Happy Brain Chemicals: Dopamine, Serotonin, Oxytocin, Endorphin
• Brain Chemistry Lifehacks: Steve Ilardi at TEDxKC
• Five Ways to Boost Your Natural Happy Chemicals
• Why Your Brain Loves Good Storytelling