Back when dinosaurs roamed the earth and AOL was cool — I was an adorably oblivious and enthusiastic high schooler who loved computers (the internet) … so I applied for a job as a computer technician with absolutely 0 experience or knowledge in fixing computers (seriously, all I knew how to do with computers, was connect to the internet, email, and chat). My new boss (The angriest ginger I ever met) was LIVID when he found out I was hired with absolutely no knowledge or experience in my new role.

I had 2 options at this point:

1. Have gratitude to my very nice co-worker my age who offered to help me and show me the basics and put in the work to rise to my new role
2. Die of embarrassment and never return to this store ever again

I’m sure you can guess what I chose. I followed my love of computers and technology all the way into college and into a long and fruitful career in tech, data, and analytics. I’m so thankful to that enthusiastic teenager who followed her spark!

Here are 3 nuggets of hard won wisdom to share with you about following excitement into a life you love:

1. Excitement tells you what lights you up

• Excitement really does want to lead the way for us! Sometimes it doesn’t make sense for us at the time, so we dismiss it or refuse to take it seriously.
• When we are excited, it’s a feeling that refuses to be ignored. Our hearts light up. Our heads fill with possibilities. Our bodies are ready to do the thing!
• Whatever it is that excites you — please take that seriously because that’s a door that’s opening to be explored. It doesn’t mean you need to explore that thing forever, but what if you just gave it a chance and see where it takes you?

2. Excitement around something will carry you when things get hard (and if it doesn’t — then that’s a sign too)

• My sheer excitement about learning more about computers and being around people who knew how to fix computers really carried me through those first few months when I was hanging on to my job by a thread. It’s that passion and excitement that continued to carry me through my rigorous classes and sometimes torturous group projects in college. It’s also that sheer enthusiasm to use technology and data to solve big and complex problems for companies that carried me through grueling projects while I was consulting.
• Through all of it — I never lost my excitement for learning and using technology to help solve problems.

* IMPORTANT PRO TIP:

• If that thing starts feeling like an obligation, or the thing stops bringing excitement for an extended period — that’s likely a sign it’s time to let it go or change directions.
• Here’s my rule of thumb: when the excitement dies or turns to obligation, it’s time to say goodbye — and that’s ok!!

3. Your head will often try to talk you out of whatever it is you’re excited about

• I am so grateful I was so naive as a teenager that there was literally no voice of reason to disqualify me from chasing something I was interested in learning.
• I wish we could sometimes mute those voices that stop us as adults from trying things that sound exciting.
• We tell ourselves we’re too poor, too old, too broke, etc to try that thing that sounds like so much fun. While it might be true, it may also be our fear convincing us to stay the same and not rock that cozy comfort zone boat.
• What if you went ahead and did that thing anyway?

Just start.

Excitement is an indication that your body, mind, and spirit are all aligned and into something — and that’s so important to notice! Even if you’re not quite ready to let excitement lead the way for the big things in your life, there’s no reason you can’t play with letting excitement lead the way with the small stuff! It’s a delightful low risk way to give the idea of following excitement a whirl around the block.

Here are some ideas for you to start:

• Let excitement pick your dinner. What are you actually excited about eating tonight? Is it a certain meal? Place? Cuisine? What lights you up? What sounds utterly divine?
• Let excitement pick your next date night: Is there an activity or place you’ve been wanting to check out or try?
• If you are so stressed/depleted/tired that there’s literally no excitement in you at the moment — can you start with asking yourself “What do I actually want right now?” (credit: Ash Ambirge, she’s an amazing human) You may not get an answer — but keep asking this question until you do get an answer (you will get an answer, I promise)!