We’ve all encountered this person at least one time in our life. They could even be your neighbor. Before you’ve had your morning coffee, you walk outside to take out the trash and get your newspaper, and there he is. You see him and hope that he doesn’t see you. Too late. He waves and gives you that big enthusiastic smile as he walks energetically towards you, and the conversation goes something like this.

“Howdy neighbor, how’s it going? Beautiful day isn’t it?!! Taking out the trash huh? Me too! You know what they say; Trash in, trash out! Hey, you going to work today? Me too! Got to go make a living. This paradise doesn’t pay for itself, right? I can’t wait to get to work! My coworkers love it when I get to the office. It’s like they know when I’m coming. There’s such an excitement and energy when I walk in. They all get up and rush to go do their work. Well, I better go; don’t want to keep them waiting. Have a great day, and remember today is the first day of the rest of your life!”

That guy is definitely not lacking in enthusiasm. Enthusiasm is evidenced by expressing joy in each task as you give it your best effort. It is lively interest as well as intense and eager enjoyment. Author, Bryan H. McGill said, “Enthusiasm is the energy and force that builds literal momentum of the human soul and mind.” Have you ever felt like your life’s momentum was a little stagnant? Well, maybe you could use an enthusiasm checkup.

Life is filled with obstacles, setbacks, and even failures, but we should never allow these experiences to drain us of our enthusiasm for life. Winston Churchill said “Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.”

Sometimes in order to maintain our enthusiasm we must forget for a moment that we are adults with adult issues; put a big smile on our face and refuse to allow anything to curb our enthusiasm. Writer, Aldous Huxley said it this way; “The secret of genius is to carry the spirit of the child into old age, which means never losing your enthusiasm.”

OK, so maybe that neighbor could dial his enthusiasm down a bit, but maybe you could dial yours up a bit? Determine that you will approach every situation, project and encounter with a healthy level of energy and enthusiasm, and always do what Author H. Jackson Brown Jr. suggests, “Protect your enthusiasm from the negativity of others.”