I stumbled upon a note I had scrawled in my notebook:
People are attracted to gifts of enthusiasm.
What I love about my notebook is that most of the time, I have no clue what the hell I meant when I wrote something. And truthfully, the impetus for jotting this one down completely escapes me.
That said, I stand by my scrawling.
People are attracted to gifts of enthusiasm.
I know this because I’m a pretty damn enthusiastic person. I get loud. I gesticulate. I lose my train of thought because I’m just too damn excited! It’s not my fault – I really can’t help it. Generating ideas, conversation, energy is addicting – like a drug (don’t ask me… I’ve never tried the good stuff, but caffeine is a joy).
And I find that people gravitate to me to suck out my enthusiasm. And I let them. I like it. I have an endless supply on most days.
Ya know why else I let people feed on my enthusiasm? This is a lonely life. Most people in my life don’t get what I do. They don’t understand why I get loud, gesticulate, and can be found geeking out about making something cool at all hours of the night.
enthusiasm is not inspiration
It’s not. You can be inspired, prolific, innovative even and not be enthusiastic. You can choose to work alone, stroking your own ego with your creative work. You can choose to not share real product of your work – that product being your joy & self-fulfillment, not the thing you’ve created.
what does it look like?
Have I mentioned the gesticulating?
If that’s not your style, I think that attention to detail, confidence, using the 1st person, owning what you do with every fiber of your being, and generally peeping into other people’s happy places is the best way see what enthusiasm looks like.
and how do I wrap this up and give it as a gift?
Actually, I highly discourage giving your gifts of enthusiasm all wrapped up with bows, paper, and tape. Much better to show it off. Flaunt it, even. Go ahead – it feels good.
I’ve let it be known before: I think negativity sucks. It’s like a weed that grows unchecked, strangling the flowers around it. Enthusiasm is opposite. It nurtures and nourishes. It’s like a pumped up, tricked out fertilizer for the souls of the people around you.
If your enthusiasm can give that to the people around you, why are you holding out on them?
Enthusiasm is one of the most powerful engines of success. When you do a thing, do it with all your might. Put your whole soul into it. Stamp it with your own personality. Be active, be energetic, be enthusiastic and faithful, and you will accomplish your object. Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson (via the ultimate enthusiastrix, Danielle LaPorte
your turn.
It’s We Scout Wednesday, so today, I’m asking you to give a gift of enthusiasm. Draw people to you. Give your passion & your joy away. No bows, no paper, and no price tags. Just you & what makes you talk loud & gesticulate.
Here’s how it works: write a blog post, share a photo on Flickr, tweet your thoughts, etc… when you do, be sure to link back to this post (http://www.scoutiegirl.com/2010/07/gifts-of-enthusiasm.html). Then come back here and leave the link directly to your post, photo, tweet, or other such thing in the Mister Linky below. Then go & grab yourself some enthusiasm from other readers!
{vintage fabric garlands by sweetjessie – I’m enthusiastic about them!}
This is an amazing post. I’m currently in the middle of trying to transition from a life of negativity and stress to one where I focus on my artwork and therefore my energy and positive enthusiasm can survive and multiply and spread to others. You articulate so much of my theory on the humans should be living!!
Thanks so much, Julie! I can tell you that I am SO enthusiastic about your work. I can spot your paintings a mile away (well, an internet mile). So I hope my tiny gift of enthusiasm can go a little ways to helping you on that path.
Good luck!
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by akaCINDERS and others. akaCINDERS said: Wonderful article! Thanks RT @scoutiegirlblog: we scout wednesday: gifts of enthusiasm http://bit.ly/bE8TuZ [...]
This is one of my favorite posts, Tara!
“Have I mentioned the gesticulating? ” You are so funny!
This brightened my morning — and certainly made me more enthusiastic about the day to come
P.S. Have you done the FSS with Danielle LaPorte? I’m just starting out, and I love it so far!
Thanks so much, Sarah! I haven’t gotten the FSS yet
There are like 3 high ticket products I want. So instead of buying one and working through them methodically, I’ve been sitting on my hands!
I am on the Third Tribe though! I think you’d really dig it. (that’s my aff link, btw… hope you’re not offended… figured you’d do the same!)
Megan is starting the FSS sessions too. That will probably be my next purchase. Gah… Why can’t I pull the trigger!
I love this post! “Of the Sea” is what I am enthusiastic about and of course your post!
http://fionadesigns.blogspot.com/2010/07/enthusiasm.html
Great topic! If there is one thing a need to go on in this business is enthusiasm!!
Thank you Tara for your enthusiasm. I blogged about mine here
http://peachytuesday.blogspot.com/2010/07/gifts-of-enthusiasm.html
[...] well duh, right? but there is more to it than that! Tara over on ScoutieGirl is talking about gifts of enthusiasm today and it struck a chord with [...]
I loved it!
I felt so happy after reading this article!
You put some good thoughts in my mind!
Thanks :0)
I actually wrote about this back in June on my blog. The thing that really gets me going is color and the psychology behind color. How color makes you feel and how the colors that are on pottery pieces affect the way you interact with the food or beverage it contains is of great facination for me. I could really get going – and, on occasion, vigorously have – on how color affects us, our moods, and our interactions with pieces we use in our everyday lives.
Anyway, the post I wrote back in June is short but talks about how our favorite colors can give us an insight into ourselves and where we are at that moment in our lives.
http://lacharts.wordpress.com/2010/06/18/spinning-the-color-wheel/
Well said, Tara, and very timely. Someone I love very much was burning out on their current career endeavor pretty badly. Then about a month ago, a new opportunity started to surface for them and to watch them go from depressed and frustrated to enthusiastic, gung-ho go-getter has been absolutely amazing! Don’t want to say too much right now, but I am hoping for some good and happy changes for this person.
[...] is we scout wednesday, and i think tara has truly stepped out of the box this time. people are attracted to gifts of [...]
I used to write my blog posts in a vacuum, but now I do experiential blogging, where I read a few things and create a collage post…. one idea timing them all together! It inspires me!!
So well said Tara. I think especially in this business you see what goes around comes around. Enthusiasm and positivity can go a long way!
love this post tara! i can see you gesticulating. your enthusiasm is contagious and gets other people excited about their businesses. thanks for your gift of enthusiasm!
This is a thought provoking entry by Tara – and even though I had already ‘done’ my blog entry for the day, I simply had to write more! I blame it on it being Bastille Day here in France. Vive la France! (That was a little bit of French enthusiasm for you). My entry focus on how the gift of enthusiasm is and essential ingredient in our everyday revolution against the little barricades life throws at us.
Thanks, Tara! You just got me all enthusiastic about being enthusiastic! I am naturally that way about all sorts of things, but the “did I mention the gesticulating?” gave me all kinds of mojo to go forth and wave wildly about the next person/thing I find super-fascinating. Thank you.
[...] morning. So yay! A bit of freedom for both of us. In looking for inspiration, I came across the We Scout Wednesday post from ScoutieGirl’s Tara Gentile about Gifts of Enthusiasm. It reminded me that just last [...]
Thanks for inspiring a post on a day when I needed one, Tara. Any amount of enthusiasm will create energy and positivity, which leads to creativity and productivity. We can all use a bit of those every day.
You are awesome Tara! Love your enthusiasm…and thanks for being so generous with it!
All day I’ve been dreaming enthusiastically of a long getaway to a beach cottage. Thanks for inspiring me to share my dream with others!
Tara,
I’m so glad I’m not the only one who has notebooks! I just got a brand new one this week! Yessss!!!
I get enthusiastic, too – just probably in a bit more subdued way. No gesticulating, just brain spinning.
I’m loving Scoutie Girl – so happy Justine turned me onto it.
Heather
This post comes at the perfect time for me. I just started teaching art to children in my backyard for the summer and I cannot get enough of it! The kids are so receptive and so excited about creating stuff that it’s an absolute joy to be able to do this. I never thought this is something I’d do, but I’m hooked!
I love your enthusiasm and your energy!
On the topic, I think joy and enthusiasm is felt by everyone you deal with. Especially in businesses where you really are the product, the joy you feel in making what you sell really comes through to your customers and can be a tangible part of what they are buying. And, well, feeling excited and happy makes you live longer so there’s basically no downside.
It was great to read your post!
I was in Amsterdam for the first time, and I really want to share what I´m enthusiastic about :
http://donauluft.blogspot.com/2010/07/bicycle-fascination.html
Living life enthusiastically is so much better than just getting through the day. Loving every minute of life is what it is all about- living in the moment.
I love to read your enthusiasm every day!
Enthusiasm is vital to the creative process and I think it is cumulative. It does not shield us from disappointment but creates such strong positive brain pathways that make the heart and mind leap to action even years later on revisiting the remains of such a day.Link to my post http://twitpic.com/25kz2u
Thanks for the boost – your posts are always so thought provoking and make me need to probe deeper. I’m currently on Christine Kane’s Uplevel Your Life mastery program & your posts are in such great alignment with the work we are doing. Changes are afoot & I am so excited & enthusiastic about it! Thanks x
oh this wasn’t easy as i am very passionate about my allotment and about my photography and the wonderful etsy community. So i choose the photography as my allotment has it’s own website and feel and is more a therapy.