What makes you feel excited?

[Spartan]

What makes you feel geniune excitement? I can remember feeling much excitement as a kid. I got excited about playing football with my friends or playing the latest computer game, but now I don't feel great excitement about anything really.

I feel happy sometimes, but I never feel excited anymore. I feel like my life is a predictable routine, I know what's going to happen and I know what's not going to happen! My life is on cruise control. Even if I changed my routine, I still feel like I could predict what's going to happen. I feel powerless to make any significant changes, sure I might make a few new friends, experience a few new things, but so what? Life doen't seem magical anymore.

I seriously think I could be just as happy lying in my bed all day. Why bother waking up? Tomorrow will be just as predicted! Everything is just a means to an end, so why not skip to the end already? When you set yourself goals, such as get a job, go to university, make new friends, get fit etc, all these things eventually lose there novelty, and after a while you revert back to the base level of happiness you were at when you just sat in your room all day. Only now you have burdens and responsibilities!

Sorry for the depressing tone of this post. Think happy thoughts.

[Angela]

Nothing makes me feel excited. Excitement is something I generate, or don't. It's not dependent on external circumstances, although there are plenty of things in my external circumstances that I can tickle my excitement with -- so many that I can't give my attention to all of them.

There is no 'base level.' The joy available to us is infinite. I mean that in a practical, achievable way, nothing whooo-whooo about it.

Excitement is a choice.

[Spartan]

Originally Posted by Angela

Excitement is a choice.

I know, I know. Everything is a damned choice, right? Yet I didn't choose to be born, I didn't choose my genetical make up, I didn't choose to have this stupid depressing gene! Sometimes I wonder how much 'choice' I really have.

I know I can choose to be excited, even if it seems like I can't. I know that it's just because the connections in my brain are wired up to emotions I habitually feel. I need to work on feeling excited. Everything is work.

Anyway, you didn't answer my question. What makes you excited, or what can you 'tickle' your excitement with?

[jaamkie]

so make your life magical again!!! start dropping the crappy routines and obligations and excess stuff that aren't making you happy, and just go out and do random activities, have random encounters with the world, without any commitments involved. I'd answer with specifics, but I'm sort of having a sitting-at-home moment myself (have been sick with one thing and another for the past two weeks so haven't got out enough, been reading too much).

[Spartan]

Ok, I will stop being so negative! Sorry.

Anyway, what makes you feel excited?

[Angela]

Originally Posted by Spartan

Anyway, you didn't answer my question. What makes you excited, or what can you 'tickle' your excitement with?

Actually I did answer your question, looks like you weren't paying attention!

As to this new question about tickling, let's see:

• There's a big Greek Festival this weekend, I'm excited about dancing my feet to shreds.
  
  Reading some Bertrand Russell. I understand he was an atheist and a peace activist. An exciting guy!
  
  Finishing this book, "The Joy of Not Working."
  
  Working on the casting of a horror movie.
  
  My relationship with Danger Man. Exciting and growth-filled all around.
  
  An upcoming party for my brother's birthday. We're getting dressed up like Dean Martin and Angie Dickinson. I'm excited to think of a good birthday gift for my very beloved bro.
  
  My new eating program, and the path I'm on of growing muscle and eliminating body fat -- very exciting!
  
  They will be lighting the new Santa Monica ferris wheel (very famous) on Wednesday, and giving free rides to locals all night!
  
  There might be lightning tonight.
  
  I get to sleep in tomorrow morning. The next morning, too; and every morning for the foreseeable future.
  
  Maybe I will start doing the Artist's Way.
  
  Tennis lessons.
  
  They set up a trapeze school on the pier. I'm not positive I'm gonna do it, but the prospect is extremely exciting!
  
  My writing is uncovering something new to me each day.
  
  The girls and I are going to see the Sex and the City premier next week.
  
  I am designing items for living in small spaces, and Danger Man and his brother are building them in physical reality. How exciting is that! We just finished this little combination laptop caddy/coffee tray that snaps to the mattress and keeps the power cord from slipping behind the bed. When I'm done geeking, I slide my laptop into it's sheath and flip it up on a hinge so that it sits flat against the wall. When it's down, my coffee cup or bowl of couscous sits nicely on the sheath which is then a tray. It's beautifully finished wood. Every time I look at it my heart fills with delight.
  
  Couscous.
  
  Writing here.
  
  We've got some fun trips coming up! Just little ones, but still.
  
  Oh yeah, Danger Man's 12 year old son is coming to visit from Sweden for the whole Summer. Oh my goodness. His daughter might come out, too. The kids coming might be the most exciting thing of all.
  
  Surf lessons! Just private for me and DM, right here in front of our apartment, the guy is coming to our beach (because I'm a big chicken.)

I could go on and on.

[Angela]

Jaamkie, I hope you feel much better soon.

[Spartan]

Nice post Angela! Very specific!

[Steve Pavlina]

Try setting some bigger goals, the kind you aren't certain you'll be able to accomplish. Also, do something you've been afraid to do.

If your life presents no call for courage, you've made it too dull.

[PVince81]

Wow, so many things to be excited about, Angela!

I think I can understand you, Spartan, because I feel the very same.

Maybe we should think about why we chose to not feel excited?

[z1freeride]

Originally Posted by Angela

...

Excitement is a choice.

To me that seems a little strange. Whenever I get excited about something it seems like it's triggered by knowing that I'm going to do something that will fulfill a desire.

So if I plan on doing something that I like to do then I feel excited to do it. If it's something that seems boring then I don't feel excited (sometimes it turns out to be fun, so that changes the equation). The only way for me to change my level of excitement is to somehow modify the boring event and make into a desirable one.

I don't think you can create excitement in anticipation to watch a boring movie. Unless you change the equation. Instead of just planning to watch a boring movie, plan to make fun of it with friends and have a good time (like Mystery Science Theater).

[Jennihul]

Stumbling upon a new twist in my quest for enlightenment.

Used to be kind of anti-social but now I get excited when it's time to see all the buds on a Friday night or on a girl's night. I guess it matters who you are friends with.

Really good high definition TV takes my breath away. Especially great travel shows and documentaries.

My trips always make me excited. I have Disney coming up with the family and a cruise with my friends in the fall.

Discovering a great wine makes me excited.

When hubs gets a new customer for his business, I get excited.

Finding JUST the thing I need when shopping makes me excited. I am the kind of person who knows what I want, but it usually doesn't exist.

Seeing really great abstract art and really fantastic modern architecture makes me excited. Santiago Calatrava is my favorite.

Jennifer

[Spartan]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

Try setting some bigger goals, the kind you aren't certain you'll be able to accomplish. Also, do something you've been afraid to do.

If your life presents no call for courage, you've made it too dull.

Yes, although I have found that when you only do the bare minimum, even the simplest of tasks become daunting. So I guess to the person that stays in their room all day, just going outside requires courage.

However, I feel like I know what the next few years of my life will entail, and I don't feel excited. I have to finish my degree, find a boring part-time job, and live at home with my parents for god knows how long. I feel trapped in kid world, I look young for my age and I am dependent on my parents. Without my parents I would be all alone, and most probably homeless. I need them. And I can't see me having a life of my own in the forseeable future.

I have my whole life ahead of me; I wish I felt excited about it.

[Angela]

Originally Posted by z1freeride

The only way for me to change my level of excitement is to somehow modify the boring event and make into a desirable one.

That is a belief that doesn't work for me. If you believe that the source of your emotions lie outside yourself, e.g., in the quality of an event, then you're not taking 100% responsibility for living a life you love. You are effectively saying, things outside myself must be different before I will feel the way I want to. To me, that is resignation and the resistance to my own power. I'd rather change my Way of Being.

For instance, in the case of the boring movie (why in the world would you want to watch a boring movie, anyway? ), if for some reason it was important to me to watch that movie (let's say I was getting paid to review it, or there's some information I need that's contained in the movie), I don't have to change the movie or the circumstances in order to get excited about it. If it's excitement I'm after, one way to get there would be to Be a filmmaker. That is, to watch the movie from the point of view of myself as creative producer -- how is this movie cast? How well is it shot? How would I re-write it to make it more stimulating? Can I imagine the leading man and leading lady having sex in real life? How much money would it take for me to create a movie like this, only better? etc. etc.

Another pathway would be to let go of "this will be boring" and generate Being Present.

And yes, if I invite friends over to play this game, that's fun, too!

In the same way, Spartan, the power you have now is the power to change your way of being -- to let go of "my future is boring" and to generate something that works better. Just remember: people are bored because they are being boring.

Can you think of a way of being that would be more inspiring to you now?

[uberinquisitive]

Originally Posted by Spartan

However, I feel like I know what the next few years of my life will entail, and I don't feel excited. I have to finish my degree, find a boring part-time job, and live at home with my parents for god knows how long. I feel trapped in kid world, I look young for my age and I am dependent on my parents. Without my parents I would be all alone, and most probably homeless. I need them. And I can't see me having a life of my own in the forseeable future.

I have my whole life ahead of me; I wish I felt excited about it.

Well, no wonder you don't feel excited! You're so down on yourself.

I'm homeless, dude! I live on my cousin's couch, out of a suitcase.
I'm broke, dude! My mom sometimes sends me $$.

If I constantly told myself, "at age 29, I should be an adult...shame on me!" then I wouldn't be excited, either.

[Trezker]

I get excited when I experience anything new. Something as simple as a new episode of a TV show or anime is very exciting.

Trying new programming stuff is very exciting. The problem is to find excitement in the hard work that doesn't contain any new experiences.

[garentee]

I get excited by natural beauty.
I get excited by having deep conversations
I get excited by selling my high quality vegetables to appreciative customers!!!!
I get excited by just waking up and realizing the potential of a new day.
I get excited by hearing really good live music
I get excited by learning new tricks
I get excited by solving complex issues
I get excited by spending time with good friends.
I get excited by hearing good news from friends
I get excited to feel extreme physical exhaustion after a long day of work or play
I get excited by good food and drinks
I get excited by putting on a fresh new pair of socks.
I get excited by playing competitive sports with friends
I get excited by a good hot stone massage.
And on and on on on it goes. I was told once to try to come up with 150 things to be grateful for ... anything at all. I could not do it. I got close to 250. I give thanks for that which I am grateful for almost everyday, and as much as 5 times a day when I am mindful enough to do it. There is a lot to be grateful for even if it is a smile from a passing stranger. That alone is something to be excited about. Life is what you make it.. Make yours exciting.

[Vasilisa]

I love going to places where I can meet people from different countries (theme parks, downtown Malls). I just walk and look at them, at their clothes, haircuts, manner to behave, listen to them talking in their languages and etc.
Shopping and finding some items which reflect my personality, for very good price.
Sneaking away for a couple of hours and reading in a bookstore three books at the same time, drinking tea and eating small piece of chocolate.
Dancing.
Soft, sensual music.
Talking to my son -children express such wisdom in times, it makes me shiver with excitement.
Skating.
New haircut, pedicure, massage.
Thinking how many exciting things I can do with my eductaion and my abilities if I want to.

I try to do each of this activity at least once in two weeks. It keeps me going from day to day.

[z1freeride]

Originally Posted by Angela

That is a belief that doesn't work for me. If you believe that the source of your emotions lie outside yourself, e.g., in the quality of an event, then you're not taking 100% responsibility for living a life you love. You are effectively saying, things outside myself must be different before I will feel the way I want to. To me, that is resignation and the resistance to my own power. I'd rather change my Way of Being.

For instance, in the case of the boring movie (why in the world would you want to watch a boring movie, anyway? ), if for some reason it was important to me to watch that movie (let's say I was getting paid to review it, or there's some information I need that's contained in the movie), I don't have to change the movie or the circumstances in order to get excited about it. If it's excitement I'm after, one way to get there would be to Be a filmmaker. That is, to watch the movie from the point of view of myself as creative producer -- how is this movie cast? How well is it shot? How would I re-write it to make it more stimulating? Can I imagine the leading man and leading lady having sex in real life? How much money would it take for me to create a movie like this, only better? etc. etc.

Another pathway would be to let go of "this will be boring" and generate Being Present.

And yes, if I invite friends over to play this game, that's fun, too!

In the same way, Spartan, the power you have now is the power to change your way of being -- to let go of "my future is boring" and to generate something that works better. Just remember: people are bored because they are being boring.

Can you think of a way of being that would be more inspiring to you now?

But you still changed the equation (like I suggested). You didn't just watch a boring movie. You changed it up by looking at it from a different perspective. Something that I would totally encourage the O.P. to do as well!

But let's say it was just a boring movie and you didn't do anything. Can you create excitement for that?

I don't believe that emotions come from an external source. I gave a pretty simplified (lame) example. I also believe that you can change your perspective (like your examples) and new emotions can derive from that.

I just don't believe that you can create emotion out of nothing. Let's say you didn't imagine yourself as a filmmaker, and you just watched the boring movie. You did nothing but watch it. Is it possible to create excitement out of nothing?

[Angela]

Originally Posted by z1freeride

I just don't believe that you can create emotion out of nothing. Let's say you didn't imagine yourself as a filmmaker, and you just watched the boring movie. You did nothing but watch it. Is it possible to create excitement out of nothing?

Do you mean, can I create excitement without changing my way of being, just by sitting there like a bump on a log, not generating anything or having any thoughts? Well, the answer to that is, if I'm being a bump on a log, I'm being pretty boring. Fortunately that's not my default way of being.

But yes, I do believe and it is my experience that I can have very positive emotion, if not excitement, merely by being present in the moment, whatever the present moment consists of ... even if it's a movie that you think is boring. I can be present and be generating at the same time. Yay!

Again, it's not the movie (or person, or circumstance) that is boring. It's the person who is experiencing it as boring that is boring.

[z1freeride]

Originally Posted by Angela

Do you mean, can I create excitement without changing my way of being, just by sitting there like a bump on a log, not generating anything or having any thoughts? Well, the answer to that is, if I'm being a bump on a log, I'm being pretty boring. Fortunately that's not my default way of being.

But yes, I do believe and it is my experience that I can have very positive emotion, if not excitement, merely by being present in the moment, whatever the present moment consists of ... even if it's a movie that you think is boring.

Again, it's not the movie (or person, or circumstance) that is boring. It's the person who is experiencing it as boring that is boring.

Yes, I agree it's not the movie (external events) but the person. This may seem like semantics or whatever but it seems to me that you didn't choose to be excited. You choose a different perspective which you knew would generate excitement.

Did you think to yourself, "this is a boring movie, I'm going to generate the excitement emotion?" You instead changed the equation by looking at the movie and saying how can I generate excitement and then you changed your perspective, which resulted in a different emotion.

I know this may seem like stupid nit-picking... hehe. But I like discussions about the details...

[Angela]

Originally Posted by z1freeride

Yes, I agree it's not the movie (external events) but the person. This may seem like semantics or whatever but it seems to me that you didn't choose to be excited. You choose a different perspective which you knew would generate excitement.

Yes. People talk about controlling their emotions, but I look at it more as guiding them. That