ENTHUSIASM FOR LIVING #2

What is enthusiasm? It comes from the Greek Language and means God within. What is God within? I believe we should begin by seeing ourselves just like God sees us. Each of us is unique and very important. We have unlimited possibility because we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psa. 139:14). Isn’t that an awesome thought? We are God’s very own work and God can work in us.

I don’t care what you want to do, do it enthusiastically. Enthusiasm will often take you further than almost anything else. If you have knowledge about what you plan to do and understand everything that needs to be done to accomplish the task, you can do that enthusiastically and nothing should be able to hold you back. Being enthusiastic about your work and projects you must accomplish helps you over the hurdles on the way to victory. Enthusiasm is the glue that keeps you stuck on the right path even when the going gets tough. It is always there and it keeps on telling you to say to yourself, I can do it! Your critics and the negative voices of your environment will cry out, No! You can’t do it. But, that small voice crying enthusiastically within you is heard again, Yes! I can do it an I will.

From my vantage point of feeling just short of older than dirt, I believe enthusiasm makes you feel younger. I personally feel alive writing this message to you right now. I will tell you why. I am preparing something for others. I am attempting once again to put some thoughts together that will help others grow. That is my intention and that is what I love to do. I have spent hours and hours on a project and this is part of it and I do not really expect to receive a fortune for my labors. For that matter, I do not expect one red cent. It will probably just end up being given away if it will help others. You see, enthusiastic people love what they are doing and they will do what needs to be done irregardless of how well their end result is received.

Let me be personal. One day really soon I will indeed produce this as part of a much larger work. The entire thing is complete. I am awaiting some input. The really big questions I have for myself at this point is, Do I really care about others. What if I did not put forth this effort to the best of my ability? What if I am not enthusiastic about what I am doing?

I know that is lot’s of questions but I must question my own motives. This is part of a 12-Step program. People in the program are going to give their best. Shouldn’t I do the same thing in preparation? Did you know that if I can’t answer this question satisfactorily, then one of these days I will be stuck in my senile years thinking about what might have been? I will close this installment by saying I refuse to do that. You see, I believe life is too short not to produce. Lives are too precious not to share good things with them. I share my best with you.

ENTHUSIASM FOR LIVING #1

(Editorial Note: Do you need something uplifting. I am going to share thoughts on enthusiasm. I believe one can become enthusiastic about living and can change their lives. Stay tuned)!

You know, I have read dozens of quotations on enthusiasm by the really great thinkers of all times and it is quite obvious that they all come pretty much to the same conclusion. Life is not too great without enthusiasm. Folks cannot accomplish many great things in life without enthusiasm. Most lasting success seems to be attributable to enthusiasm. It is called electricity and a volcano and magic and yeast and lots more things. All those things suggest some of the more prominent things that I know are true about enthusiasm.

Enthusiasm is power. It moves quickly and pervades huge groups of people. It’s able to give folks more creativity and excitement as they face the need to accomplish even greater tasks. Look around you at the folks that are enthusiastic. They have that power. They can move people to action. Together those people can accomplish much more than any one could accomplish by himself.

The problem in our world today is that there is an enemy to enthusiasm on nearly every corner. People seem to be by nature rather negative and if you listen long enough to their negativity, you will be sucked right into their little stagnant existence. I work with people that are like this. You also know there are critics everywhere. One thing about a critic is that he is an expert in his own eyes. He knows exactly what you can’t do and he will be critical of every idea you have and everything you do that would generate enthusiasm in your life.

How many times have you shared an idea with someone who tried to shoot holes in it from every angle? We need to begin to see all this for what it really is. Some folks are like that because they did not think of the idea first. Here you are willing to share something really great with them and they are tearing it and you down. Sometimes it is better to keep it to yourself. Tell the wrong people too quickly and they will shatter your hopes and dreams with pathetic rhetoric or they might just say pitiful words not fit for human consumption.

I believe it is time for you and me to take enthusiastic action. If success requires enthusiasm and enthusiasm is required to achieve anything great, we had better get it. But where does one start? I know one thing I don’t want to do. If I am going to try really hard to be enthusiastic I am not going to start by trying it out on the critic right away. If I have a really great idea and I know it will work and I know I must develop it with great enthusiasm, I will not be quick to share it with the pessimist. The thing that would work best is to just keep it a secret for a while. Just think how powerful a secret can be!

There will be more next week. I am excited about this subject. Have a great week.