7 Tips For More Enthusiasm
Enthusiasm is the mainspring that brings you to your goal, the vitality and positive energy that helps you overcome difficulties. It gives you confidence and enables you to perform at your best. But sometimes it is difficult to show enthusiasm. The gray everyday life, uncertainty or worries about the future often silence this virtue. However, there are various psychological mechanisms that you can activate to get excited again.
The famous doctor Gregorio Marañón saw enthusiasm as a sign of emotional health. It gives your life an impulse, lets you achieve goals and enjoy the path. The psychologist Martin Seligman emphasizes that this quality gives us the opportunity to deal with things with heart and soul, with energy and vitality.
Why don’t you give it a try? Why don’t you find out how to strengthen that precious mental focus? We have some tips for you.
How can you arouse your enthusiasm?
Enthusiasm is contagious. Therefore, it is beneficial not only for yourself but also for those around you. It shines like a spark in the dark and inspires everyone. One study explains that enthusiasm, curiosity and hope are the strengths of character that make you happiest.
In their book “ Character Strengths and Virtues”, Christopher Peterson and Martin Seligman describe enthusiastic people as energetic people with shining eyes who feel passion and motivation within themselves. From birth, however, this characteristic is more pronounced in some and less pronounced in others.
In other words: some have a certain predisposition to it, others are disadvantaged from birth. Because it is not easy to always radiate energy and positivity. Therefore, we can think of this dimension as a state of mind to be developed, awakened and kindled whenever possible.
Discouragement can also have positive effects from time to time, but as a constant companion it is very restrictive. Read on to learn how to get excited.
1. Discover new ways
We live in a time when self-help books are always in great demand. The cult of the self, the need to understand, care for, develop and heal ourselves, forces us to always focus on ourselves. However, it is good if you leave the boundaries of yourself from time to time to discover other worlds.
As you do so, you become aware that there are other ways you can learn from. Maintaining new friendships, discovering new environments, places or practices and new experiences awaken the desire for life. That is the spark of enthusiasm.
2. Relax, stop living in survival mode
To get excited you need to stop living in survival mode. What does that mean? Stress and anxiety make you think in self-preservation mode : fight or flight from threats. The mind is only focused on worry, what happened or what could happen, what you need to do …
Enthusiasm will not be sparked if you are caught up in constant brooding and worrying. So do it, relax, slow down and treat yourself to moments of calm.
3. Where is your enthusiasm?
Not everyone is able to answer this obvious question. When do you feel passion, what kindles your inspiration, enthusiasm and motivation? If you are clear about your preferences and personal concerns and working on them, you can spark your enthusiasm.
When you experience excitement, the following thoughts will arise: “I know that I can do this; i love to spend time with what i do; I feel good; Time flies like in flight…”
4. Align your values with your beliefs and behaviors
When you do something, align it with your values and beliefs. Always follow what your intuition and the inner voice that knows you so well tells you.
Only if you put your heart and soul into what is in harmony with your authentic essence and personality, you will enjoy it, let yourself be carried and your enthusiasm will be awakened.
5. Stay away from those who quench your enthusiasm
It is a law of life. There will always be one or two people around you who underestimate your passions, your tastes or your worries. They are people who are experts at wrestling their wings from those who dream and discouraging those who find their way. If someone is undermining your plans and hopes right now, it is time to distance yourself.
6. Practice transcendence to spark your enthusiasm
Transcendence means going beyond the obvious and the ordinary to develop broader visions and deeper insights. This psychological strength was first defined by William James and later by Abraham Maslow. It also has to do with self-actualization, with the clear goal of learning in order to develop as a whole person.
Research from the University of Simón Bolívar and the Autonomous University of Madrid, as well as other studies, shows that something as simple as a walk in nature evokes in us that sense of wonder and transcendence that is so enriching.
7. Enthusiasm is an attitude, choose it every day
As it is often said: what is life without enthusiasm? Without them, we lack excellence, charisma, desire and courage to work on what we want. Without this emotion we vegetate, we only exist in autopilot mode. Therefore, you should set yourself a goal that inspires you and work towards it.
