Enthusiasm Is More Than a Feeling
What if enthusiasm isn’t something you either have or don’t have? What if enthusiasm is a decision?
We often talk about enthusiasm as though it’s a personality trait. Some people seem naturally energetic, optimistic, and excited about life. Others are more reserved. Some people wake up ready to conquer the world, while others need a cup of coffee—and maybe a second cup—before they’re ready to have a conversation.
But genuine enthusiasm is deeper than personality.
Enthusiasm is a God-inspired fire ignited deep within your soul that drives you to never settle, live with passion, and turn the world upside down.
And here’s the good news: you can make decisions that help you live more consistently in your Enthusiasm Zone.
That doesn’t mean you’ll be excited every moment of every day. Life doesn’t work that way.
There will be difficult days. There will be disappointments. There will be unanswered prayers, unexpected bills, difficult relationships, setbacks, failures, and seasons when you simply don’t feel enthusiastic.
That’s exactly why enthusiasm cannot depend entirely on feelings. Feelings change. Decisions can remain.
The Eight Decisions
There are eight decisions we can make that help us live more consistently in our Enthusiasm Zone:
- Embrace Your Weird.
Discover who God created you to be instead of constantly trying to become someone else. - Never Settle.
Keep growing. Keep moving. Keep becoming the person God created you to be. - Turn the World Upside Down.
Use your life to make a positive difference in the lives of other people. - Hope as You Climb to Your God-Given Potential.
Believe that God isn’t finished with you yet. - Utilize the Power of Positive Failure.
Learn from failure instead of allowing failure to define you. - Set Goals.
Give your enthusiasm somewhere to go. - Engage Your Heart.
Discover what you’re passionate about and bring your heart into the way you live and work. - Discover Your Purpose.
Understand why God put you here and invest your life accordingly.
None of these decisions requires a perfect life. In fact, they are particularly important when life isn’t perfect.
Enthusiasm Isn’t Pretending Everything Is Great
There’s a dangerous misunderstanding about enthusiasm. Some people think enthusiastic people are always positive. They never get discouraged. They never cry. They never struggle. That’s not enthusiasm. That’s pretending.
Biblical enthusiasm doesn’t deny reality. It recognizes reality and chooses to believe that the present reality does not have to be the end of the story. Paul wrote: “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal…” — Philippians 3:12
Paul wasn’t pretending he had everything figured out. He was still moving. Still growing. Still pressing forward. Still believing there was more. That’s enthusiasm.
You Don’t Have to Change Everything Today
One of the biggest mistakes we make when we decide we want to change our lives is believing we have to change everything at once.
You don’t. Sometimes the most powerful decision you can make is a small one. Maybe today you decide to stop comparing yourself to everyone else. Maybe you decide to take one step toward a goal you’ve been avoiding. Maybe you decide to learn from something that went wrong instead of beating yourself up over it. Maybe you decide to reconnect with something you’re passionate about. Maybe you decide to believe that God isn’t finished with you. Small decisions can create significant change when we consistently make them.
Your Enthusiasm Zone
Imagine what would happen if you stopped waiting to “feel” enthusiastic and started making decisions that cultivate enthusiasm. You might discover that enthusiasm isn’t something you find. It’s something you nurture. It’s something you choose. It’s something you develop. And ultimately, it’s something you can use to make a difference.
Romans 12:11 says, “Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.”
That is more than a suggestion to smile more. It’s an invitation to live differently.
To work with passion. To serve with purpose. To refuse to settle for a life lived on autopilot. You don’t have to wake up tomorrow and have your entire life figured out. Just make one good decision. Then another. Then another.
Because your life can change one decision at a time. And somewhere along the way, you may discover something powerful:
You were never meant merely to get through life. You were created to live it with enthusiasm.
