Ever had a word chase you? Lately, the word enthusiasm has been following me everywhere. It started when awesome blossoms Michelle Ward and Jessica Swift asked me to write a blog post about enthusiasm in celebration of their brand new book, The Declaration of You. Ever since, I’m noticing the word wherever I go.
In commercials. In conversations. In articles. Any time something keeps showing up in my life – a word, a feeling, a book, a quote – I know I need to pay attention. There’s a message somewhere in there for me. So yesterday, I just sat down and wrote the word enthusiasm over and over – until this sentence flowed through my pen:
“The common denominator in every job well done is enthusiasm.”
“Well, of course,” I thought, practically scoffing at the oh-so-obvious insight. Every project I’ve ever worked on – from writing a third grade book report to teaching an online class – has been far more successful and fulfilling if I’ve been excited about it from the start. I mean, duh.
And that’s when it hit me: right now, there’s some work on my plate that I keep putting off because my heart’s just not in it. Stuff I said yes to as a favor or because it would be easy enough for me to do. Stuff that will result in decent but not dazzling work because the enthusiasm isn’t there. Wait – what!? How the heck did that happen? I have said this in so many ways to clients: just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean it’s what you’re meant to do. And yet somehow I walked right into the trap myself, forgetting to use enthusiasm as my litmus test.
I suspect that’s precisely why enthusiasm has been chasing me lately – to show me I’m not quite walking the talk. If I have a choice in the matter but I’m not pumped up or squealing with joy inside, I gotta turn an opportunity down with the expectation that something better totally perfect (!) will come along to take its place. I want everything I do to rock your socks off – and settling for being less than excited is not the way to get there. Thanks for the reminder, sweet enthusiasm.
Note: I’m so excited for Michelle & Jessica, as they see their popular ecourse become a real-life book!! The Declaration of You will be published by North Light Craft Books this summer, with readers getting all the permission they’ve craved to step passionately into their lives, discover how they and their gifts are unique and uncover what they are meant to do! This post is part of The Declaration of You’s BlogLovin’ Tour, which I’m thrilled to participate in alongside over 100 other creative bloggers. Learn more — and join us! — by clicking here.
