No championship team can survive on daily pep talks, even if given by a fantastic coach.  At some point the athletes need to be self-motivated enough to be enthusiastic about the game and their contribution.  Joyless players—regardless of their natural talent—simply won’t reach their potential as players or as a team.

A great question to ask others is, “what are you enthusiastic or passionate about?”  The answer will vary from person to person; we are each unique regarding what lights our internal fire.  But the question helps answer something about our deepest motivations.  What gets you out of bed each morning and makes you look forward to what might unfold throughout the day?

Since enthusiasm is defined as “expressing interest and excitement in what I do,” it seems to be first cousin with the character trait of diligence, which is “focusing my effort on the work at hand.”  Where we can have excitement and enthusiasm in our work is the place where we make our greatest contributions.  Simply put, we will be joyful in the work that we find interesting or exciting.

Interestingly, the root for enthusiasm is the Latin word “enthusiasmus”, which means inspiration.  Behind that Latin word is the Greek word, “enthousaismos”, which means to be inspired or possessed by a god.”  When we are properly enthused, we are living as inspired people, even God-inhabited people.  But what does this look like in everyday life?

We’ve all heard the phrase, “Love what you do, and you’ll never work a day of your life.”  This suggests that passion for one’s work removes the feeling of drudgery.

Many find this quote true in spirit, but emphasize that even jobs you love will have difficult, monotonous, or draining moments.  But the truth is that none of us can sustain enthusiasm long-term in an environment that demands of us things that we don’t feel gifted for or passionate about doing.  Joyful diligence here quickly turns into bleak drudgery.

I believe that God gives people different passions in life just as He gives people different gifts and abilities.  Your gifts and abilities indicate WHAT you will do well, but your passions answer the “where” question . . . WHERE will you do what you do well?  Once you start operating in that sweet spot where your gifts, abilities, and passions converge, you will enthusiastically accomplish great things . . . even the things that others might find awful, boring, or unappealing.

One of the things I am enthusiastic about is about a work I do in my “spare” time.  I buy families out of slavery in Central Asia.  It’s hard work—fund-raising, difficult travel, limited freedoms once in country, and potentially dangerous encounters with slave-owners or radicalized Muslims.  Nevertheless, I find myself energized and enthusiastic about the work.  Why?  I don’t know all the reasons, but I do have a sense of inspiration from God.

John Maxwell says, “You will be remembered in life only for your passions!”  As a pastor, I’ve officiated my fair share of funerals over the years.  The awards, honors, contributions, ribbons and metals that one earns are rarely the stuff of heart-warming obituaries.  We are remembered for our enthusiasms and passions—the things in which we found our joyful purpose in life, whether it was a hobby, sports team, job, volunteer work, or relationships.

So for whatever reason you got out of bed this morning, may you be enthusiastic about what inspires you.