Common Triggers
- →Achieving a goal
- →Receiving good news
- →Anticipating something enjoyable
- →Social interactions with loved ones
- →Celebrations and special occasions
- →Starting a new project or relationship
Physical Sensations
- •Racing heart
- •Smiling
- •Increased energy
- •Tingling sensation
- •Warmth in the chest
- •Faster breathing
Plutchik's Emotion Wheel
Working with This Emotion
Recognize
Recognize excitement by its physical sensations, such as a racing heart, smiling, and an overall sense of energy. Facial expressions might include a wide smile and bright eyes. Behavioral signs can include jumping, dancing, or talking faster. Words like 'amazing,' 'delighted,' and 'ecstatic' are often used to describe this emotion.
Understand
Excitement is commonly triggered by positive events such as achieving a goal, receiving good news, or anticipating something enjoyable. It can also arise from social interactions, like spending time with friends or family, or during special occasions like holidays and celebrations.
Label
To label excitement precisely, note the high intensity and positive valence that distinguish it from other joyful emotions. Excitement is more intense than contentment but less overwhelming than euphoria. It often comes with a sense of anticipation and eagerness, setting it apart from pure joy or serenity.
Express
Healthy ways to express excitement include sharing your enthusiasm with others, celebrating achievements, and engaging in activities that bring you joy. You can also channel this energy into creative projects or physical exercise to maintain balance.
Regulate
When excitement becomes too intense, use strategies like deep breathing, mindfulness, or grounding techniques to calm down. Take a moment to reflect on why you're excited and what it means to you, which can help manage the intensity and keep it positive.
Co-occurring Emotions
Emotions that frequently appear alongside excitement, based on the NRC Emotion Lexicon.
Associated Words
Words associated with excitement from the NRC Emotion Lexicon.
Using Inner
Using Inner, an emotional journaling app, you can track patterns of excitement to understand what triggers it and how often it occurs. Pay attention to physical sensations like a racing heart or a smile on your face. When you feel excited, label the emotion precisely to distinguish it from similar feelings like joy or anticipation. Use regulation strategies like deep breathing or mindfulness to manage the intensity if it becomes overwhelming.
Try Inner for FreeSources & References
- —RULER Framework (Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence)
- —Plutchik's Wheel of Emotions
- —Geneva Emotion Wheel
- —Lisa Feldman Barrett - How Emotions Are Made
Related Content
Eagerness
Enthusiastic or impatient desire.
Joy
A feeling of great pleasure and happiness.
Ecstasy
An overwhelming feeling of great happiness or joyful excitement.
Bliss
Perfect happiness; great joy.
ESFP (Extraverted Sensing Feeling Perceiving)
Spontaneous entertainers who bring joy and excitement to life.
Flying Dreams
Dreams of soaring through the air, often representing freedom or escape.