AN INTERVIEW WITH LIENKE DE JONG

Enthusiasm is not just a plus; it represents your greatest strength. As the purest form of motivation, it reveals who you truly are. In The enthusiasm revolution ('The Enthusiasm Revolution', only available in Dutch) explores why our enthusiasm sometimes disappears, and also how we can reignite that spark.

Text: She Smolders
Photography: No Point Studios
Construir: Agência Joyce Walian

How did you come up with the idea for this book?

'My grandma and grandpa taught me to follow my enthusiasm, because that is always good. I thought it was the best advice ever. But the older I got, the harder it became to follow this advice. Enthusiasm was seen as childish or unprofessional. I heard people say things like: 'Sorry I'm so enthusiastic.' That sounded so wrong in my ears! I started researching and eventually interviewed more than 100 people, including neuroscientists and psychologists. Was my grandparents' advice correct or do I have to accept that enthusiasm is something you lose when you become an adult?'

 

What did you discover?

‘My grandma and grandpa were right after all. Enthusiasm is a primordial force; the most intrinsic power people have. It expresses what truly touches you, precisely at that specific moment. While happiness can remain passive, enthusiasm puts you into motion. And it can be contagious: a single enthusiast can change an entire room. Moreover, enthusiasm rarely occurs by chance; it's like your inner compass. It points you in the right direction without needing much thought.’

What do you hope this revolution will set in motion?

'I hope that people will more often wonder what excites them and why they restrain their enthusiasm. That they should take their enthusiasm more seriously and stop suppressing it. Enthusiasm requires space, calm, and time to feel. In the book, I help readers recognize their personal limitations so that enthusiasm can take the lead again. We need an 'enthusiasm revolution'. For ourselves, but ultimately also in the interest of the planet.'

Lienke de Jong is an entrepreneur, speaker, radio producer, and founder of Dear Good Morning, a platform centered around energy, focus, and a powerful start to your day. Her book Dear Good Morning was published in 2020 and immediately became a bestseller. In The Enthusiasm Revolution, she explores how enthusiasm offers an inner compass in a hectic world.

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