Where does this thing we call ”enthusiasm” come from?
Moreover, why do I feel like I really could use some, right about now?
This morning, there was a long list of things I allegedly ”needed to get done,” and my inclination to do any of them was incredibly low.
At the same time, I am keenly aware that doing these ”things” is in some way a ”requirement” In order to secure this thing the world calls ”money” which, in turn, is somehow a ”requirement” In order for there being electricity and Internet so I can sit here and ramble, and running water so I don't have to go shit in the woods, and a roof over my head and such.
In my particular case, the infamous Protestant Work Ethic is clearly a learned behavior because I feel absolutely no natural inclination towards being active or industrious.
But let's get back to enthusiasm.
What makes us feel enthusiastic about something?
The Effort/Reward Equation
When I get down to the nitty-gritty of it, I invariably end up at some version of the realization that I feel ”enthusiastic” when what I get in return for putting forth effort of some kind is greater than or equal to the amount of effort put forth.
Simple math essentially. When what I get in return for effort put forth feels like less than the effort I am left with a feeling of either futility (most likely) or depression. In the face of both of those, I tend to just get "stuck."
Of course, the ”greater than or equal to” part of this equation tends to be a rather fluid and ambiguous concept. It's not something we can readily distill down to fundamentals like "a quantity of apples" or "a pile of money." Instead, we're left with something far more nebulous, perhaps best described as the sensation at the end of everything, it was ”worth it.”
Out Of Balance...
And so, I look at this thing called ”enthusiasm” and realize that the actual issue I'm wrestling with is that it feels like fewer and fewer things in this world of ours are actually ”worth it” anymore, where “it” is represented by the amount of effort, the sum of money well whatever else we are required to give up in order to have something else in trade.
Does that mean I'm suffering from some kind of psychological or emotional ”inflation?” As in, I am not keeping up with the increase in the ”cost” of being able to secure those things that previously filled me with at least a modest amount of enthusiasm?
No, if I were the lone "outlier" in this world and everybody else seemed to be feeling about the same as they always had I would easily be able to dismiss this as a case of ”I just need to get over myself!”
However, I am writing these musings as an extension of having noticed that more and more people I know — both in my inner circle, as well as my peripheral acquaintances — are using language that in some way or another conveys that a lot of things ”just aren't worth it anymore.”
What's more, on the limited number of occasions on which we do find things to be enthusiastic about, it seems like so many are out there looking for something better that these tiny Oases of ”goodness” get overpopulated so quickly that they are akin to the momentary flashes of fireflies that light up the spectrum for just a moment and then fade back to dark.
Yes, I realize there are probably some who are reading these words and they're thinking to themselves ”Dude! You need psychological help or a pill or something!”
But I'm not so sure about that. More likely, I'm just more willing to look behind the curtain of cognitive blindness that so many so willingly hide behind... and take a closer look at the ever-changing equation of our collective experience of being alive and finding a measure of contentment in this world.
And what of enthusiasm? Maybe we find it in very small ways that cannot be "deflated." And maybe we find it in simply stepping outside the boundaries that are trying to fence us in.
Thanks for reading, and enjoy the remainder of your week!
How about YOU? Do you find it easy to be enthusiastic? What is your "formula" for finding enthusiasm, if you have one? Does it seem like it takes more effort to reach the same goals than it used to? Comments, feedback and other interaction is invited and welcomed! Because — after all — SOCIAL content is about interacting, right? Leave a comment — share your experiences — be part of the conversation!
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Created at 20220413 23:30 PDT
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