How Enthused Are You?

“I get more pleasure out of failing in a project that I’m enthused over than in succeeding in a project that I know I can do well.”
– Woody Allen

The failure and success part is nebulous. Every little discovery either within, or without, is a success story. But the word I’d like to focus on is “enthused.” In Latin, enthused means in God. It’s possible it’s a Greek translation. Either way, it means that enthusiasm comes from the higher source. What we’re enthused about doesn’t always match the societal, cookie-cutter path our parents would like us to follow. Isn’t it interesting how much more appealing the road less traveled is? It must be the forbidden-fruit syndrome. Or is it?

Maybe it's a calling. A calling usually comes with a set of challenges. As with beginner’s luck, the first time we feel enthused over something, events go our way for a little while. Everyone is supportive, doors are open, and opportunities are all there when we’re least ready for them. We can also refer to this portion of the “enthused program” as the honeymoon period. 

There’s always a honeymoon period. 

It is after this period is over when enthusiasm really starts to play a role. I find that whatever has excited me about a project in the beginning, continues to excite me throughout. I can go through periods of forgetting and breaking up with a project, but sooner or later I always come back to the ones that have enthused me.

Having said that, we can get excited about projects we do well, simply because they come easy to us. It’s that same enthusiasm at work. That’s why the part to notice is the enthused part, in whatever direction it may be flowing.

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