We’ve all had them. Those shock to the system strokes of genius. Those times when ideas start to roll, and creative juices are flowing so freely it’s almost overwhelming.
When this happens, we are filled with Enthusiasm.
And this is exactly the word Eckhart Tolle uses to describe complete inspirational thinking. It’s also the third of the “Three Modalities of Awakened Doing” that he describes in his book, A New Earth.
As I mentioned in a couple of earlier posts, Eckhart’s book describes how we can focus on seeing the joy and adventure in every day tasks.
I wrote earlier about acceptance and enjoyment. Both help us turn things that aren’t filled with excitement into things that we can start to really enjoy.
But enthusiasm is different.
I think of enthusiasm as the state we all aspire to live in, constantly. We feel so good, so energized, when it shows up in our life.
But like so many highs, it seems to slip away far too quick.
Eckhart doesn’t view this as a negative, but rather a positive. If we were always in a state of enthusiasm, it would be too much. We wouldn’t appreciate the unique special state that it is.
We also would have hard time implementing all of our wonderful ideas!
You need the space to execute. Enthusiasm starts the fire, but tending to the fire belongs to enjoyment, and at times, acceptance.
Once I started to think about it different, I became more grateful for enthusiasm. But I also understood that once that state passes, it doesn’t mean that I’m not still inspired- I’m just ready to get to work!
When I started this blog, the idea came to me like a lighting bolt.
I remember the exact moment. I was on a train going from San Francisco back home to Sacramento, right after my 36th birthday. I decided that I wanted to share my perspective, writing about how life can be fun and interesting in recovery. It doesn’t have to be that challenging state of just coping with your disease.
My brain started dreaming up all the things I wanted to talk about. How I wanted the blog to look. How I could partner with other people. Sometime I thought my ideas would never end.
And then they did, and it was time to get to work.
I started researching everything about blogging. I learned the technical aspects of something I’ve never done before and working up the courage to put it out there.
I was still excited, but some of the tasks were also frustrating. There are many times when I wondered if I should keep writing five posts a week. Is it even worth it?
I still believe in this message so much- but it’s hard not to doubt yourself. And after a full day at work, sometimes the last thing you want to do is write!
But I realize now that my enthusiastic idea has delivered countless days of living in the state of enjoyment.
I love writing this blog. And sure, I might not wake up in the middle of the night right now, brimming with new ideas. But I know that will come again. Believing in abundance has taught me that enthusiasm will be at my door step again soon.
Being present and living under the universal laws of “Three Modalities of Awakened Doing” has made each day so much more joyful. Worries have faded and life has just become more fun. So many blessings- and so much time to enjoy them all!
