I know that sounds like a bit much- but it is actually true. I just learned that feeling happy is linked to feeling excited!
This isn’t altogether surprising as one of my favorite positive psychology notes is that excitement and fear share the same physiology in the body- it is the meaning that your mind defines that makes the difference. Fear doesn’t seem to exist when excitement is present.
Feeling always excited IS possible, but it is also a habit to learn while unlearning an old way of being. In this way, though, we have to remember two things CAN be true at the same time. Something can be hard, upsetting, not fun, challenging and at the same time you can find something that could be or is exciting about it- if you are willing to do it. We are not discounting what is challenging, etc, we are adding to it what might be exciting.
I have written about this before- having something to look forward to, something to be excited about in the future is a happiness trigger. We can learn to feel excited in the short term and in the moment, as well. Allowing yourself to be pleasantly surprised is a great start. Wonder is always available- being open to seeing what might be there to be excited about.
My life is full of excitements- and some strange ones, too. If I have to go to the hospital for a doctors appointment (maybe there is someone who is excited about going to the hospital, but not me!) I have something about it that I can be excited about. I always make my appointments for first thing in the morning and at our hospital they serve one of my favorite brands of coffee. I get excited about that coffee! I notice that that excitement overrides all other feelings I may have.
What else am I excited about- routines I have created that have things I am excited about sprinkled in. I always look for things that are “along my way” places to add excitement. I get excited to surprise someone, I flip through the photos on my phone and I get excited reviewing what I have enjoyed and get excited all over again, I make sure I am going to see a sunrise or a sunset and get excited ahead of time, I get excited to plan my week ahead and my day the night before, I get excited to see my dogs when I walk in the door who are excited to see me- used to be my kids, self care appointments are exciting, and I was excited to see a pumpkin smoothie on the seasonal menu of my favorite healthy food store this morning. I am ALWAYS on the lookout.
Being excited is a way of life that can bring a lot of joy and happiness. It is a strength to build and again, not to ignore things that aren’t exciting.
Here’s a way to begin: look at your day- what is happening? What things can you already be excited about? What things are you less than excited about? What can you surround those things with that might be exciting to you- related to the thing or unrelated. Experiment. Have an “I’m excited” day just to see how that works. And take a pad of paper and pen right now and make a list of the things you are excited about right now. Think about this in all of the areas of your life. Possibilities, opportunities, ideas- all things to be excited about along with the concrete things.
Enjoy this exploration! I am excited for you!