I AM INDEED enthusiastic. I have a deep, genuine, intense foundational joy for life – Joie de Vivre – (a compliment from an honored connection.) I wasn’t born with it. I earned it.

Enthusiasm is an authentic zeal for living and helping others.

Enthusiastic people are realistic, playful, optimistic, inventive, and caring. They are not afraid to feel. They are self-accepting with all the imperfections they think they have.

Enthusiasm comes from the Greek word enthousiasmos, from enthous, meaning “possessed by a god.” Yes. Enthusiasm does possess you.

I’m not naïve thinking everything is fine and easy. I always have hope and create choices for change when things get tough.

Enthusiasm is a choice I have lived with since childhood.

Life at home was nothing to be enthusiastic about. My dear father suffered from alcoholism. I survived a fatal disease and lived through bullying and being gay.

I had a choice – to suffer in misery or overcome suffering and live on the flip side. The flip side won! (And trust me – there is always a flip side.)

I countered pain and despair with gratitude – goodness – actively surrounding myself with what gave me pleasure. Happiness was on my terms. That centered me. Made me strong

If you continuously practice enthusiasm it happens organically. It runs you. You can quickly shift into true positivity, good karma, healthy living, compassion, optimism, and kindness.

You can slog through hell and get to the promised land with determination and goodwill for yourself.

It takes hard work to be an enthusiast. You have to know who you are and what you want.

Enthusiasm doesn’t just happen unless you test and develop a strategic way out of apathy, anger, resentment, and fear.

You are responsible for your life. The choices you make create your life.

Gratitude is a tool at the core of enthusiasm, as is empathy, confidence, and generosity.

There are facts to enthusiasm. Every enthusiast knows what truth elements work for them; focus them when the world comes barreling at them without mercy.

I ask you – What do you use to like the world under any circumstance?

For me, it’s living in art – acting – singing – movies – drawing – nature – animals – work – prayer – imagination – creativity – organization – contribution – collaboration – service.

I’m enthusiastic about living my best life without harming anyone else and helping others do the same because that
is how I want to live. That is who I Am. Anything less is self-betrayal, and that is unacceptable. Intolerable for me.

Thanks – Michael (he, him)

Please share this Daily with others.
This is also useful – Get Right Into Happiness.

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