Reading Matters
“Giving a Damn”
Enthusiasm is a rare gift and when you see it in people, especially the young, it is palpable. An enthusiastic person displays those attributes we wish we possessed but, for various reasons, hide under a bushel. I rate enthusiasm right up there with resilience as life’s great gifts. It occupies one of the top slots in the list of elements needed for successful living. There is no doubt that everyone likes talking to enthusiastic people, they light up a room. Enthusiastic people make you feel special and pull you along on life’s adventure. Enthusiasm brings out the “hyper character” in us. I was fortunate to have had a lecturer in English method at university. I caught his enthusiasm as well as the content and have never forgotten his influence. It has been a guiding force in my life. I can honestly say that classroom teacher is a wondrous experience unlike anything else.
The point is: enthusiasm is contagious like a disease. This is one contagious disease that has a desirable effect. If there is a category in the Guinness Book of World Records of being the contagious disease most people would like to have with them, it is enthusiasm.
How can we encourage young people to show enthusiasm in the midst of mishap, trauma and the vicissitudes of adolescence?
Here are some helpful tips to develop enthusiasm:
- Adopt the "as if" principle. This is an effective strategy. I wish to live my life “as if…”
A similar principle is the "what if?” This involves hypothesising about other courses of action. A student may be bored in a particular class. This principle allows for exploration of other strategies to gain interest and enervation.
- Adapt enthusiasm into the "practice makes perfect" principle. In other words, be enthusiastic on almost everything you do every day no matter how insignificant they are, no matter how small they are. All those small things when added up become big. This is the "as if" principle in small ways.
- As you wake up each morning, be enthusiastic about the things you are going to do that day. Bring enthusiasm to even the routinely morning chores like taking a shower, getting dressed, eating breakfast, taking the bus, at school up to the time you reach home for dinner till you go to bed, enthusiastically looking forward to tomorrow.
- Remember that each day in your life is God's gift to you. Show your appreciation to Him for the gift you receive by being nice to other people, helping others and thanking Him through prayers
“The enthusiast also refers to the "Type Seven" personality type. People who fall into this modern definition of "enthusiasts" are adventurous, constantly busy with many activities with all the energy and joy. At their best they embrace life for its varied joys and wonders and truly live in the moment.”(Wikipedia) In a society that values “chilling’ out” it is a pleasure to see young people display enthusiasm and drive. Parents and teachers would do well to model enthusiasm in our daily lives. Do our children actually know what we are passionate about? The Greek origin of the word means to be “filled with God”. And so it is!
Bibliography
www.myselfmotivation.com/enthusiasm.html
.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enthusiasm
Mr. Paul Cullen
paul.cullen@cg.catholic.edu.au