Studies show that enthusiastic people get better breaks:
- They are promoted more often,
- They have higher incomes and
- They live happier lives.
That’s no coincidence.
The word ‘enthusiasm’ comes from the Greek word ‘entheos’. ‘Theos’ is the term for God or spirit.
When you are enthusiastic, you are full of spirit. You wake up in the morning excited about life, recognising that each day is an opportunity to bring your spirit to the world.
Where’s the enthusiasm gone?
People have lost their enthusiasm. At one time, they were excited about their futures and passionate about their dreams. But along the way, they stub their toe. They bruise their ego and they hit some setbacks. They didn’t get the promotion that they wanted. Maybe the relationship that they long for didn’t work out or they had health issues. Something took the wind out of their sails.
Now, they are just going through the motions of life: getting up, going to work and coming home.
I read about a famous surgeon who loved medicine so much that he continued to go to work every day till his late 80s. He had invented some procedures that he had performed over 10,000 times. When he was asked if he ever grew tired of performing his procedure, he said, “No, because I act like every operation is the very first one”. He had a saying, “I don’t let it become so ordinary that I lose the ‘ahh”.
Claude Monet used to instruct his students before they painted a flower to remember the first ‘ahh’ they felt when they first saw a flower for the first time.
Don’t take the ‘ahhh’ moments for granted
Don’t take for granted the splendour and beauty of a flower. That is the way to approach every endeavour, every day. Bring your god-like spirit to it.
Have to do an expense report? Do it with gusto.
Have to hold a staff meeting? Remember what it was like when you were a small scrappy team with big ideas and a burning desire in your belly?
Going home for dinner with your family? Remember how you felt when you first got married, how you felt when that bundle of joy first emerged onto this planet and in your arms?
Have to make some client calls? Do it like you are on a mission from The Universe because you are.
So, bring the spirit of God or The Universe into it. Don’t give it a half-hearted effort. Don’t just do what is required to get by. Do everything with all your heart and might. Do it with a smile. Give it the very best.
Do everything with all your heart and might
I remember when I was in middle school, there was a janitor who inspired an entire schoolyard of kids every day. He would stand at the entrance and greet every student with a big smile and an enthusiastic greeting. He’d say, ‘today is going to be a great day.’ He’d say that every day. If you headed to the bathroom, he’d wipe down the sink in front of you, turn on the water and be ready to hand you a paper towel with a big toothy smile when you were done. If you were coming down the hall, he’d beat you to your locker and wipe it down for you. He kept a private garden on the premises of the school property. He maintained it on his own time, using his own money, and then donated the harvest to the lunch rooms so we’d have fresh ingredients for lunch. Kids would go back to school years after they graduated just to say hi and hug Ernie. Ernie never dragged through the day. He brought his etheos to work every day. I admired Ernie. He was living more fully than anyone I knew and almost anyone I have known since. So, today, be Ernie.
Today, be Ernie
Be the exception. Even if it is just for today, and see how your day transforms.
Action For Today:
The only way I know to be enthusiastic is to just freaking BE ENTHUSIASTIC!
It’s just a decision.
Decide to reset your energy and then just act enthusiastic.
Stand up taller, smile, shake hands vigorously, hug tightly and speak with strength.
In the beginning, it might feel awkward, but soon doing the thing will bring the thing.
Too often too much is made of how to generate enthusiasm or passion.
Decide your why, chant “I like myself” in the mirror, rub crystals, beat drums, and listen to Gregorian chants.
Or you could just forget all that and take the simple approach.
The Theos is already inside you, just bring it forth by deciding to do so, then act accordingly.
Today – live with enthusiasm
Today, I ask you to live with enthusiasm.
- Every room you enter.
- Every phone call you make.
- Every person you cross in the parking lot.
- Every elevator you get on.
- Every activity you engage in.
- From responding to emails, and walking through the front door at night, to washing the dishes and taking out the trash.
- Whatever, all of it. All day.
Just today. You can go to being a bore tomorrow.
Today, BE the god-like spirit you were intended to express every day.
Try it on. You just might like it.
I’m certain everyone around you will.
As Paul J. Meyer said, “Enthusiasm is the yeast that raises the dough” (As in cash!)
Any questions or comments? Ask them in the Comments section below.
