The Importance of Genuine Enthusiasm

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A meaningful life is dependent on inner serenity, self-honesty, and engaging with the world with genuine enthusiasm. The word enthusiasm is defined as strong excitement or a strong feeling of interest in something we like or enjoy. The word actually originated from two Greek words, en (meaning in) and theos (meaning god) and has evolved to mean “manifesting the spirit within.”

Enthusiasm is expressed with our voice, gestures, facial expressions, words, and actions. Whether we feel or don’t feel inspired can be revealed in a simple smile or a frown, standing straight or slouching, being kind to others, or being distant.

Losing Enthusiasm

You may feel that you once were enthusiastic about a job, relationship, or activity but lately, you feel you are losing your enthusiasm. This may be a sign that what you are doing today may no longer be aligned with or connected to your inner spirit or psyche. If neglected, this disconnect can lead to growing stress and anger and, ultimately, show up in physical ailments.

If you are losing your enthusiasm and this feeling has been with you for some time, you may wish to talk with someone close to you or a professional in order to better understand the root of this discontent and what actions you can undertake to address it. Perhaps it means seeking a new challenge or goal, perhaps it means doing more of the activities that give you energy and less of the activities that drain your energy, perhaps it means seeking out people who uplift you versus surrounding yourself with people who pull you down, or perhaps it simply means you need to remind yourself of the positive impact you can make in the lives of others.

Faking Enthusiasm

Recently, I saw a T-shirt graphic that read, “Sorry I am late, I didn’t want to come.” Sometimes we feel that we are required to fake enthusiasm in order to be accepted by others.

This may be especially true in the workplace. Organizations want employees who are fully engaged and enthusiastic, especially for jobs that require employees to play their part in front of the public, such as the case for waiters, cashiers, teachers, and service workers. Faking enthusiasm when we don’t really feel excited or passionate may be part of the job expectations. But faking enthusiasm can push us further and further away from our true selves until one day we wake up and ask ourselves, “Who am I?”

Seeking to please others can be a perilous trap. We need to ask ourselves: Is this a short-term challenge or is faking enthusiasm going to be a long-term necessity in order for me to excel at this job? What effect is faking enthusiasm having on my spirit? Am I losing trust in myself and are others losing trust in me if they sense I am faking it too often? Will the disconnect between the image I am projecting and who I really am lead to increased anguish, stress, and other issues in my life?

Genuine Enthusiasm

Genuine enthusiasm is an expression of our true or authentic spirit and emotions. Expressing our “self” is an important part of our innate human-ness, inspiring not only us, but those around us. Being honest with others leads to more transparent and authentic relationships.

In order to embrace genuine enthusiasm, consider:

• Acknowledging what your emotions are trying to tell you, for they are important signals of what you may need to address.
• Even if you don’t feel passionate about your life or work, look for the positive—look for the one or two or 10 things that are going well in your life.
• Seek more alignment with what interests and inspires you. Bring more of this into your life. Choose work or focus on the parts of your job that are more closely aligned with your true nature.
• Find people who understand and support you and importantly, in turn, support them. Enthusiasm is contagious—spread it to the people around you.
• Choose exercise, movement, and music that elevate your mood.

When we are engaged in activities we feel are meaningless, feel that we are not living authentically, are overwhelmed with excessive worry and resentment, or complain incessantly and have a negative attitude, these are all signs we lack enthusiasm. When we are engaged in activities we enjoy, feel that we matter, and have an optimistic, positive attitude, these are signs we are living with genuine enthusiasm.

Enthusiasm is essential for living a meaningful life. It’s not what we do in life (what job or relationship we have) but how we do it that matters. When we are inspired, we are open to new connections and have new thoughts and ideas. By engaging in life with genuine enthusiasm, we can interpret the people and experiences in our lives with new meaning, which, in turn, can make a big difference in the overall quality of our life.