Enthusiasm is the mother of effort, and without it, nothing great was ever achieved – Ralph Waldo Emerson. When Emerson wrote this, I am not sure what specific meaning he was applying to the word “enthusiasm,” but his message is clear and correct. Without enthusiasm, greatness cannot be achieved.
The reason nothing great has, can, or ever will be achieved without enthusiasm is found in the meaning of the word itself. When most people hear the word “enthusiasm,” they think it means “excitement,” or “passion,” and it does, indeed, mean those.
However, the reason it means these things is much deeper and found in the Greek origin of the word. The word “enthusiasm” comes from two Greek words: “en,” meaning “within,” and “Theos,” meaning “God”. So the word “enthusiasm” literally means “God within!” It was used to describe people who possessed passion or interest or had very strong, inspired, wisdom and convictions.
I must find my passion to feel enthusiasm. I can’t generate enthusiasm by endlessly repeating a lousy job I hate. I must stop doing things I hate, the things I don’t like, the things that drag my energy vibration down.
I must start doing what I like doing, what I have always liked doing since I was a kid, things that boost my energy, things I can lose myself in while doing them, things that absorb me and make me lose track of time, make me forget about the details of daily routine.
If I think about all of the things I have done in my life, all of the projects, tasks, activities, and even relationships I’ve been involved in. I can identify those things I did simply because I had to, or I just did it but my heart wasn’t really in it.
Now, if I think about those things that kept me up at night and made it hard to eat or think about anything else because I was so keen, eager, and convinced beyond all doubt that it was what I was supposed to do.
When I am truly enthusiastic about something, I am being led by a power that is greater than me, for a purpose far beyond what my eyes can see. I have the power of God within me and there is nothing I cannot do when this flow of energy is in me.
However, if I am just going through the motions or trying to do something that is out of alignment with my values, it does not matter how hard I work or how excited I am about it, it will not ultimately fulfil me. It is one of the most divine feelings I can experience. It is energy vibrating at the highest level, energy vibrating in tune with creation. When I feel this energy, I am on the cruise ship of divinity.
This divine feeling of excitement is my reward for heading toward my true soul purpose. I will never feel enthusiasm when I am doing the “wrong” thing with the “wrong” people at the “wrong” time. When I am off track, I feel emptiness, fatigue, depression, frustration, and anger.
Enthusiasm is what lets me know that I am right on track with my life. It is the thrill and tremble I feel when I take the risk of being myself. It is a wave emanating from my soul, lifting me and taking me along. It is the very life energy that freely flows through me when I dare to be myself.
It can be seen in the twinkling of my eyes, the determination in my step, the strength in my hands, and the irresistible energetic pull of what I have decided to create. When I feel enthusiastic, nothing can stop me. I must and will go on, no matter what others are pulling out of their hat to try to stop me. When I am working towards my goal with enthusiasm, nothing can hold me back.
I jump out of bed early (4 am) in the morning because my goal and my dream, are calling me. The entire day I am working for the achievement of my goal, losing track of time without feeling hungry. I live in another dimension, carried along and aloft by divine energy.
The material details of life seem small and insignificant and they can no longer distract me, for I have more important things to do. I have a veritable Life Goal, something that entails my whole being and my whole doing.
When I am one with my Life Goal, I feel a divine energy carrying me; it is called enthusiasm. I am still in this world, but I am no longer in this world. I can accomplish large amounts of work that others may consider humanly impossible. It is this very divine energy flowing through me that enables me to accomplish the impossible.
Enthusiasm is the elevating force that lifts my dreams to the stars. The world evolves by the grace of the powerful thrust of highly motivated, enthusiastic people.