enthusiasm — Blog — The Enthusiast

What is enthusiasm?

I know enthusiasm when I see it and when I feel it – especially, in fact, when I feel it and live it, as I’m lucky enough to day-to-day. It’s a very embodied feeling, which can make it hard to put into words. (Brilliant! You say. Perfect for a blog post.) Often, I get away with the definition “Ah, well, you know, it’s what makes the world go round”, because many enthusiasts also recognise that feeling instantly. But what about those who feel it, but don’t know how to name it? Putting words to something gives us power, because once we name it, we can wrangle it. We can harness it. We can utilise it. So, it’s time to answer “What is enthusiasm?”

enthusiasmEllie KimeSeptember 28, 2022enthusiasm, what is enthusiasm

From divine inspiration to social sin: a (brief but fun) history of enthusiasm

Like an old actor on the run, enthusiasm has lived many a life. Here’s a brief history of enthusiasm through time…

enthusiasmEllie KimeSeptember 27, 2022enthusiasm, what is enthusiasm, history of enthusiasm

"What do you do for a living?" might be an outdated question - but what should we ask instead?

A couple of weeks ago in my newsletter, I mused on the age-old party question “What do you do for a living?”. This question is as old as time – by which I mean, I guess, as old as capitalism, which isn’t as old as time at all – but in recent years, it’s been put under the microscope. What would you rather be asked instead?

enthusiasm, workEllie KimeApril 25, 2022work, workplace, enthusiasm, careerComment

Are you a maximiser or a satisficer?

This week, I spent the best part of 3 hours deciding on some clothes hangers last week. (Here's me and the eventual product just hanging out. 😎)

ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY MINUTES. TEN THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED SECONDS. HALF OF MY BILLABLE WORKING DAY!!!

Ok, maybe this particular situation isn't entirely relatable - if it is, maybe TikTok should hire me as their algorithm overseer - but I'm absolutely certain the thought process behind it is. And that thought process? Maximisation.

Ellie KimeAugust 23, 2021maximiser, satisficer, maximisation, enthusiasm

Where Enthusiasm Fits In In the Workplace & Job Hunt, with Hanna from As We Are

Hanna is a careers and leadership coach who believes that we’re brilliant as we are - geddit?! - and set up As We Are to make the world a better place via diverse leaders and happy workplaces. We’ve done a blog swap today to discuss how enthusiasm and work intersect, so if you’re currently looking for employment and want to know where enthusiasm fits in - this is for you!

Ellie KimeMay 9, 2021work, enthusiasm, workplace, cv writing, job applicationsComment

Enthusiasm doesn't mean you're flighty or fickle

If you’ve been on instagram for maybe 7 minutes, you’ll have definitely seen at least 1 if not 10 posts about talking to yourself with kindness, and taking extra caution with the words you’re using to describe yourself. The reason they’re so prevalent is because they’re 100% true - the circle of what you’re telling yourself feeding into what you believe is just as much the circle of life as the gazelles and the giraffes at Pride Rock are.

Ellie KimeJune 19, 2020enthusiasm, fickle, energetic

Is enthusiasm realistic in this day and age?

In short: yes. It’s really important to me that enthusiasm isn’t confused with blind, baseless positivity, or an irritating inability to be annoyed. You can still be enthusiastic whilst being royally pissed off that your parcel was chucked over your hedge instead of left in your safe place, and you can still be an enthusiast whilst feeling despair at a certain situation. This is especially true in a world like today’s, which can feel scary more days than it feels safe.

enthusiasmEllie KimeMay 7, 2019enthusiasm, pragmatism, realism, what is enthusiasm

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