Exuberance Has Been On My Mind

I’ve been working on an art card that depicts the concept of “willingness for exuberance” for a client. (You can check out more here.)

The word really grabbed my attention. As I was meditating on the word to see what imagery would come up for me, I began wondering, when was the last time I truly felt exuberance. And if I hadn’t felt exuberance lately, what was the impact on my heart and brain.

I learned that what I’m missing when I don’t experience exuberance is:

• The release of dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins - neurotransmitters that support mood regulation, motivation, and pleasure.

• Enhanced neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to reorganize and restructure its functions by forming new neural pathways in response to learning or changes in the environment) helping the brain form new connections and adapt.

• Improved cognitive function, including better creativity, problem-solving, and memory.

• Improved sleep quality, which is crucial for both cardiovascular and brain health.

These are the benefits of increased moments of exuberance overtime rather than sporadic or manic bursts of exuberance.

I began wondering, what mindset or behaviors have I adopted lately that put a wet blanket on exuberance for me.

And here is what I’ve learned:

I’m experiencing chronic overstimulation from observing, watching or reading about difficult, upsetting, dramatic or violent accounts.

Constant exposure to social media’s curated content leads me to Compare and Despair Syndrome or the feeling that everyone else is happier, wealthier, having more fun, and more success. When we fall into the compare-and-despair trap, we are less able to enjoy the moments of our experience.

Believing the myth that I am able to thrive within the state of multitasking with constant interruptions from notifications and task-switching. Exuberance naturally arises when we are in a flow state. Flow states are created by committing sustained intentional attention to a single activity long enough to feel genuine enthusiasm.

Not getting enough good rest. I am having a tougher time falling asleep and maintaining sleep naturally. This impacts the ability to concentrate, feel my best, and process information.

Every system in my body slows down, and my body and mind become more sedate, when I don’t make myself get up from the art table, or the computer, to go for a walk, be in nature, play with the dog, or do other things involving physically moving my body.

Why Exuberance Now?

I am becoming more and more concerned about the safety of the world and our communities. Many of us are. And this hyper-vigilance to be on the lookout for threats wears on our ability to feel joy, safety, and optimism which are the foundational to feeling exuberance. These threats can be physical, financial or emotional. And the secondary or first-hand trauma experienced is real.

We are moving toward more transactional relationships through social media and less actual time spent in community with others. Meaningful, in-person connections increase spontaneity, playfulness, and sharing of experiences where genuine exuberance often arises. Meaningful friendships keep us from feeling isolated and increase our sense of safety — all necessary foundations for exuberance.

The pressure to live highly scheduled lives keeps us focused on maximum productivity — the feeling we must optimize every moment. This scheduling leaves little space for one of the places where exuberance is most likely to appear — unstructured play. Unstructured play is necessary for creativity, renewal, connection, and spontaneity. Unstructured play time can be silly, full of laughter, and enthusiasm. All of these keep those positive chemicals flowing to our brains.

The act of waiting. Easy access to immediate dopamine hits (social media likes, online shopping, streaming, food delivery) can dysregulate our nervous system by putting us into a constant state of positive rewards. But these particular rewards don’t last very long and soon we are hunting the next dopamine hit. It is the planning, the saving for, the dreaming of, and the waiting that actually build up to the exuberance of an event, a purchase, or a vision coming into form.

Worry about the next thing. This is one I have to work on. My mind tends to look toward the “but what might go wrong” side of things. I am someone who often is expecting the next shoe to drop. Always planning, worrying, or working toward preventing the next bad thing, prevents us from fully experiencing and savoring current moments where exuberance might arise.

I want to take the wet blanket off my exuberance.

Exuberance requires a certain quality of presence, safety, and freedom that the speed of life today can sometimes systematically undermines. Which is kind of shocking because today, more than ever, we have more material comforts, entertainment options, and ability to connect with others through devices instantly.

I want to be concerned and aware of all that is happening, and I want to have moments of spontaneous excitement, contagious laughter, and joy. I intend to take more deep satisfaction from working through a challenge, of waking up after 7 hours of restful sleep, of writing a letter, mailing it and waiting for a return reply, creating art by hand, and of sharing in-person experiences with others. I want to be intentional about creating opportunities for exuberance to bloom.

What about you?

Would you like more exuberance? Here is your permission slip to have more because it isn’t just fun, it is actually good for your brain and your heart.

Consider some small behavioral changes that you might make that would set a foundation for more exuberance. Calling a friend to go for a walk instead of talking on the phone? Or start planning and saving up for a fun vacation instead of putting it off until you can afford it or plunking it down on that credit card? Turning off Netflix and turning on some calm music to lull you to sleep? Turn off notifications on your phone when you are engaging in a project or taking time for yourself?

Small shifts can have big results in most places in life but especially when it comes to exuberance. And more exuberance means more emotional regulation, more connection with others, and more healthful and peaceful living. Sounds like a sweet trade to me. How about you?

To learn more about my art journey and how I’m using art to create more happiness, exuberance, and connection visit my Art and Curiosity Project: https://BethWonsonIsCurious.com