Full-on joie de vivre

A few more thoughts on enthusiasm

I first wrote about enthusiasm back in 2017 when I was writing about creative careers for Forbes, in an article called “In Defense of Enthusiasm: Why You Need To Be Saying Wow.”

It was inspired by a review of my podcast at the time, left by a listener who felt strongly that my cohost and I were saying “wow” too much, which gave them the impression that we were in over our heads. We weren’t; we were interviewing NASA artists and dancing roboticists and all kinds of people working at fascinating intersections.

In other words, there was a lot to wow about.

Here’s an excerpt:

We live in a world of mixed messaging. We’re told to think big but act cool, even though studies show that how we act affects how we think. It can feel confusing as creatives—and as people—in this landscape, caught between contradictory expectations.

Consider this my vote for enthusiasm. To hand out generous amounts of exclamation points in a culture of periods and ellipses feels like a radical act. The creative life and career can be full of sacrifice, low points, and obstacles. If you’re not enthused about what you’re doing, why the heck are you doing it? I’m excited because I care. Because the work matters to me. 

Enthusiasm doesn’t mean I’m in over my head; it means I’m out of my head, in my body, and alive in the world. Which is exactly where I want to be.