September 4. “What a man knows only through feeling can be explained only through enthusiasm.” (Joseph Joubert)

Do you ever find yourself at a loss for words when it comes to explaining how you feel? I have. I can dance around the subject, or give analogies, but there are times when I just can’t explain how I feel about something.

One example of this is the term “Cedar Point excited”. I used it a few weeks back to talk about my anxious anticipation over going on vacation. But the term is just an analogy to another time in my life when I felt similarly, it doesn’t really explain the feeling. But, what can be seen easily, and what does offer up the explanation, is the level of enthusiasm I had in those days before we left.

Enthusiasm is a powerful force. When I feel naturally enthusiastic about something, there really is no stopping me. I will do whatever it takes to move things forward and be successful. I hadn’t really thought about it much before today, but there isn’t really a good way to describe the collection of feelings that go along with that natural high of enthusiasm.

One of the reasons that I, and others, will try to pump up our enthusiasm for something is that we want to have that same set of feelings coursing through our nervous system. I know that if I can ignite the flame of enthusiasm within myself, and it takes hold, it will become a self-sustaining engine of success. Sometimes I am successful in the “fake it until you make it” mode of pumping enthusiasm, and in all cases I can rally up better feelings for something with the process. And sometimes it becomes its own force that consumes me and propels me.

I have never taken illicit drugs in my life. Other than my daily coffee, and medication when I am ill, the only other drug I’ve ever consumed is alcohol. I have never experienced a chemically induced high, and I have no desire to ever even try it. For me, there is no greater high than the feeling of unbridled enthusiasm. The rush of feelings, for me, is unmatchable.

I have written about, and reflected often on enthusiasm this year. Right now at work I have high incentive to enthusiastically close out some difficult work. If I can successfully bring it home in the next 6 weeks, then I will have some interesting opportunities coming my way. I don’t have to reflect long on the need for enthusiasm in this case. And, the good news is that I feel that flame within. This morning I awoke a good 30 minutes before my alarm and forced myself to get the extra rest I’ll need to face the challenges of the day. As I am wrapping up this post, it is still far earlier than I would normally be heading in, and I am excited to dig into the day and push myself and the team forward toward success.