https://youtu.be/ZSnxv4WYsS8
Congratulations: you are ready to start practicing Enthusiasm.
Enthusiasm is the Soul Trait that drives us to take action; in particular actions to become a better person, or to make the world a better place. The medieval Mussar classic Orchot Tzaddikim calls Enthusiasm the ornament to the other Soul Traits, because when we take an action, we should do so with focus and energy. In addition, the Talmud teaches that a good deed only counts when it is completed. Thus, we are enjoined not to phone it in, or go about life giving a half-assed effort. If you are going to do it, do it well!
The goal of Enthusiasm practice is to mindfully bring positive energy and follow through on the right things in life.
Too Little Enthusiasm: Sloth and laziness
Too Much Enthusiasm: Rash decisions and frantic busyness
Practice:
American Mussar practice has three parts: a morning mantra, daily actions, and journaling. If you haven’t done so already, watch the video above.
Mantra
Pick a mantra, write it on an index card, and place it by your bedside.
Here, you have two choices:
One mantra is “Run to do good,” which reminds us that if there is a good deed that needs doing, we should rush to do it right away. Once I literally ran across the room to give a microphone to someone who was waiting to make a comment.
The other is recommended if you are someone who is prone to rashness. “Look before you leap” will remind you to “think it through” before acting.
In the morning, recite the phrase out loud several times and contemplate the meaning. This will frame your thoughts for the day. Pay attention to times when your Enthusiasm Soul Trait comes into play.
Action
If you tend towards too little Enthusiasm, bring positive energy to whatever you are doing. If you can’t keep this up for a day, mindfully pick a specific part of the day where you will bring the positivity and energy up.
If you tend towards too much Enthusiasm, slow down. For example, if you are feeling overwhelmed with busyness, carve out some time to meditate or take a nap. Another idea is to spend a few minutes writing down a plan before just charging in.
You don’t need to do anything dramatic – just take a small step outside of your comfort zone.
Journaling
Write about your experiences at night in your Mussar Journal.
If you are not into journaling, just take a few notes in your phone, or record yourself a voice memo. The key is to contemplate the action in a non-judgmental way to help enable small gradual change in the soul.
This page is part of the American Mussar Cycle. Like it? Sign up here.
Glad to start the Enthusiasm week. I’ve been dealing with various forms of procrastination, writers block etc. This is just what I need to get focused and get some things done. This is crunch time for me, and I’m getting nervous about the book launch. I have an opportunity to write something for a pretty well known blog – I’m afraid they won’t like it. I think it is too much Humility, and the action-oriented nature of Enthusiasm is just what I need. Less head space, more hands space!
This is a tough one. Hard to know when there are competing priorities which one to bring the enthusiasm to! Can we be rash snd overly impulsive about some things and lazy about others? I am!
Haya – we can indeed. Both ends of the spectrum is another way of being out of balance. This week is a great opportunity to observe, journal, and learn more about where you are being tested.
My recommendation is to think of a situation where you operate as too rash or lazy, and take one small step towards balance. You can’t and don’t need to “solve” everything in one go. Focus on that one area this week, and take one small step from where you are towards balance.
This has been a ‘G-dsend’, because it is so real, genuine & again, Biblically-based; we can read/study examples from real people during ancient Biblical times, & we can benefit from their true-life examples. There4, tx so much 4 sending, because I can continue 2 improve in this area of life as I read 2-day’s trait lesson, in addition 2 the other comments, which were very helpful & most of all, by His ‘divine help’ by providing it within 2-day’s trait lesson, practicing & applying 2 my daily life. 🙂
Enthusiasm is elusive when you are struggling with depression or loss. Do you have any specific advice for me?
Vicki – thanks for your question and I’m sorry to hear the present is a struggle.
Mussar helps us take a small step from wherever we are. Much of the classic Mussar literature describes Enthusiasm as a means to fight the heaviness, which is a sensation that I can associate with depression or loss. I would pick something really small to do, and be kind to yourself about whether or not you can do it. What is one small way you can reach out, do this dishes, make a call, ask for help?
Here is a journal entry I wrote when feeling a bit down when I was practicing Enthusiasm. (p. 85)
“Enthusiasm is hard when I’m sick with a cold. It helped me unload the
dishwasher, clean the cat litter, and start sorting my papers, but heaviness
took over. I stopped and did not call my friend. I had various internal
excuses. I must try more tomorrow.”
I share this with caution, because I don’t want you to think I am equating low energy and being down from a cold with depression and loss. However, the spirit I am trying to convey is that Enthusiasm can help you take even small steps that are hard. Eg If you are lying in bed for 30 minutes unable to get going, use Enthusiasm to get up after 20 minutes.
Finally, I want it to be clear that Enthusiasm does not require you to be chirpy or just move on. It will probably be a challenge right now, AND it may be exactly the soul trait you need, to get just enough extra energy to get through this time.
Hang in there.
Thank you for your comments about depression. I was looking forward to working with this soul trait precisely for the reason that I tend to be slightly depressed and flat. I want more enthusiasm. Positive Psychology suggests practicing relishing, savoring and enjoying all the pleasant moments as much as possible. That way our brains will register the experience. So I am happy to have this opportunity to mindfully focus on the positive.
You are very welcome Hillary. My practice for this week is to try to catch myself doing good things. I really love the practice you suggest -to savor and enjoy the pleasant moments. Joy is also a soul trait, and practicing Joy sounds like a great way to bolster enthusiasm.
Decided to use “Just Do It!” and “Run to do Good” as my mantras…
I find that work is the best place for me to put Enthusiasm into service; I get bored and I experience mental ‘brain fry’ in the afternoon after having done too much invoicing – and invoicing is part of my job. By taking the writing in the book to heart and tapping back into gratitude I’ve found that I can re-charge my enthusiasm and get back on task… It keeps me from being slothful and drifting off into checking email that does not need to be checked, etc. (It does help, however, that when I’m re-firing up my enthusiasm, that I stand up, stretch, and get a drink of water…)
It’s also helping me push past my weak spots of cleaning the litter box for my two furry feline daughters and getting the dishes done and put away instead of leaving them in the dishwasher or in the sink strainer for two days…
Hi Kerena
Great job applying the teachings in the book! That is exactly what this practice is about – finding how it applies for us, and then making changes. You are doing great! Please keep us posted
Added Comment:
Found a nice Daily Inspiration that encourages us to learn to see the good in all. Tie that in with enthusiasm and realize that even the least little thing you do can help for the greater good and may even make a difference in this world, and it adds some inner fire and changes enthusiasm to ENTHUSIASM. Wow…
Kerena – that is super cool. All of the various soul traits are connected, and when we bring them together the results are powerful. Seeing the good in everyone is fundamental, and part of the soul trait of Honor.
I will try the combination you suggest myself!
This is coming at a really important time for me. I’ve been studying for the GREs and working hard at learning a new language so that I can succeed in grad school. There’s a time constraint, with the GREs approaching in just a few weeks, and it can be hard to stay motivated and enthusiastic. This middah has really helped me this week. I generally tend towards a pretty balanced level of enthusiasm, but this week it was just the thing to get me motivated and moving.
Thank you so much for sharing your situation. Often, the Middah we are working on is the one we most need. Glad to hear that is the case of you!
In reading your book and studying enthusiasm, I had difficulty understanding the proverb “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest-and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.” Could you please explain this proverb.
I have studied Mussar with the book “Everyday Holiness by Alan Morinis. Several of my friends and I developed a group to continue this study and practice. We chose your book because it helped us know what steps we needed to take. We are enjoying repeating the traits and learning how much more there is to learn and practice.
Hi Joanne – thank you for your question. I’m glad to hear that you and your friends are finding the book useful.
The proverb is implying that we should always be doing something useful. Taking a break is a sign of laziness, which leads to poverty because you are not working hard enough. The “like a thief” suggests by surprise – one day you’ll find yourself in the poor house.
While I can relate to the feeling of sluggishness that sometimes leads me to procrastinate, I am a recovering workaholic, and have had to learn how to build recovery time into my life.
Hope this helps.
Thank you so much for your response. It will certainly help me in my presentation to my group this week. I appreciate you taking the time to answer me with your busy schedule.
Hi Greg…enthusiam/alacrity….hmmmmm
For me today I was discouraged with my feeling of sluggishness….so i pushed myself out the door for a short 35 mins run at my favorite park. During the run I felt my body respond with an energy of gratefulness..”yeah, shes using us to move!!” Legs , arms and heart pumping,,,oxygen flowing.
When I finished my mind went to ok…that was alright…and then it went to the past when ive done more or gone longer or faster…..AND..i stopped!!! There it was….the past and comparing today to then!! I let it..my mind… take my enthusiasm. I brought myself to present….i am very grateful that my body and i take such good care of myself…and really ..eveyday, every moment, is a chance to do just that. I was content and happy with my goodness!! Felt the cheerfulness once again in appreciating the learning in action! Wendy 🙂