The Importance of Enthusiasm when Tackling Change

Change is stressful - right? Or at least it seems that way a lot of the time. When change occurs we feel under pressure. It does not matter so much that we have met the situation before, the spotlight seems to be firmly on us.

We may be having to get out of our comfort zone or at the very least nudge the edge of what we think and feel comfortable for us. So what can take us that little bit further? What can help us to navigate the route we need to take?

Sure, we need the talents and skills to take our venture forward. We also need the time to do so, as well as the energy and motivation to bring home our prize. But at the heart of things lies something we find hard to quantify. We know it when have it. We know it when it is sadly missing. And what is this 'x' factor - our enthusiasm.

Enthusiasm does not grow on trees. It cannot be bought at the corner shop. While it can be infectious and hence passed from one to another, it is good if we can have our own 'supply'.

So what is enthusiasm?

our eagerness to take part and put effort in to our task
an energy that we have that wants to get the job done
an excitement we may have for the challenges ahead
an exuberance that will not allow obstacles to (easily) hinder our progress
a fire we have inside that loves the thrill of the chase
an intensity that will not readily accept second best
an energy that helps to put a smile on your face

So why is it important to be enthusiastic about your life and the role of change within it? When we are not enthusiastic

life can become a bit of a chore
change becomes difficult - it is hard to raise one's head from the pillow in the morning let alone exert the energy and spirit to get through the 'extra' tasks that life throws our way
we find it easy to put in just the right amount of effort to get a job done - but no more
we often would prefer to be on our own rather than having the excitement of the crowd, our crowd, showing our dim energy for what it is
we may avoid change and rather stick with the status quo - even if we are not happy and comfortable as that appears to be the easy option
we lose the fact that we are our own number one supporter often leading us to act in a half-hearted manner
we lack the interest in our life that helps us to push the boundaries and the limits
while we may still be keen, we may lack the foresight and energy to tackle anything beyond the ordinary
we don't really like ourselves and find it hard to attract others to our cause

Enthusiasm is enticing. It brings to life that allure that we really seek. It makes the ordinary attractive and the obstacles can be 'painted' in a fascinating and persuading way that lures us to touch and embrace them. We like ourselves and we are good to be around. We exude that little something that is above price - an excitement and exuberance for life that makes our journey in life such a satisfying and productive one.

Change will always be a challenge but given the enthusiasm we can kindle in our life we can meet the expected and the unexpected with equal good grace. We can raise ourselves to the challenges and reach new heights of accomplishment and endeavor. And having done so we can feel eager to again test our talents and our skills, our
knowledge and our wisdom against the next situation that arrives in our life.

And how do we get this enthusiasm in our life? Well, it certainly helps to love life and to love yourself. Feeling good about yourself and comfortable in your own skin helps enormously. To enjoy life and the direction your life is going is one of the secrets of being enthusiastic.

Learning from life and accepting the challenges that life has to offer you is one side of the coin. The other side is having the energy and zest to meet those challenges head on - to make the most of your 'lot' in life - that is what enthusiasm is all about.