Enthusiasm is a powerful force to counter self-doubt and can open doors that are solidly shut, often by our own reasoning.
In the heart of my busy city there is a small house, which eighteen children call their home. They are the castaways and a visible proof of the dark side of the city; orphans or innocent victims of abuse. But the darkness ends there and this place is lighted up by their cheerful faces and resounds with their happy laughter.
They have many little games, but there is one special one. There is a little blackboard at the door and the children are awarded turns to write on it, a list of things that they need. No luxuries however find a place on the list. Toothpaste, flour, rice, oil, tea powder, vegetables; this is what the list usually reads like. Donors who live in the locality or come to occasionally visit look at this list and then bring whatever possible for the children.
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Those children have no visibility to the future of their education, employment or homes and certainly have no trust funds. But they enthusiastically go about studying, playing, singing together and talking to people who come to meet them. They quickly take along any new additions to their large family most enthusiastically and have lofty dreams for themselves. Their only investments are in enthusiasm and they do it liberally.
Enthusiasm is a powerful force to counter self-doubt and can open doors that are solidly shut, often by our own reasoning. Enthusiasm is not a personality trait of extroverts as it is often made out to be;it is momentum sustained irrespective of the odds. Sometimes there is no reassurance of results for our actions, neither are purposes or benefits fully visible while doing them; at these times it is only enthusiasm that can get us through. No goal worthy of achievement can be achieved without passion and enthusiasm, just as failure is overcome only by reinvestment in enthusiasm.
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Talking to the ever cheerful caretaker of the home I gather that the first of their boys, who had moved out of the home a few years ago, has completed his education and secured a job in the a multi-national corporate. He is committed to help his brothers back at the home to also find their way; it does not matter what he earns; Enthusiasm is enough!
