power_it'sShowtime.htm

As a professional speaker, I’ve just concluded two of the busiest weeks I’ve experienced in a while. I conducted seven different seminars, visiting seven cities across the country.

I realize that, doing what I love to do, I get to meet wonderful people who are open to my ideas. Many people implement my life-changing concepts and report back about the positive changes in their lives.

The challenging part of the past two weeks was the fact that I had caught a cold that turned into a sinus infection and I wasn’t feeling very good. One of the concepts that I teach is: “It’s not what happens to us. It’s how we react.”

All of us have challenging moments. Champions have simply found ways to get up quicker when they’re knocked down. Early in my speaking career, some twenty years ago, I created a process that has helped me on many occasions to overcome challenges.

Not feeling well when I’m about to go before a large audience can be quite a problem since I normally speak with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. However, the people who attend my events deserve the very best from me. Thus, before I’m introduced at such a time, I stop negotiating with myself and simply say, “It’s Showtime!” That means that I’ve got to stop feeling sorry for myself, forget how I feel, pretend I’m feeling fine and go perform.

How many times have you found yourself upset about something that has gone wrong or you didn’t feel like doing something that needed to be done? Be careful how much energy you give to those feelings. Please realize that, if there’s a death involved, that’s not the kind of moment I’m talking about. It’s all those other moments when we feel like having a pity party. I’ve sent invitations to my own pity parties. No one shows up.

So, these past two weeks, I took antibiotics and decongestants for my sinus infection. Before each introduction, I simply said, “It’s Showtime!” and got started. I pretended to be enthusiastic and, within a short time, I was enthusiastic and felt better physically. It’s amazing what the mind can do for how the body is feeling. Enthusiasm for the solution is a great antidote to depression.

It is said that many people die at the age of twenty-five and don’t get buried until they’re sixty-five. The statement is based on the fact that most people literally walk through life half asleep. Challenging moments seem to easily get them off track.

The word ENTHUSIASM comes from the Greek word “enthousiasmos.” It means to be inspired. The root of the word is from the word “entheos.” The “theos” portion means God. Thus, the word literally means “God within.” For a synonym, the dictionary says to see the word “passion.”

People who show enthusiasm for life, for people they care about, for their work, seem to have a unique advantage. They appear to deal with challenges in a more productive way. Good things happen in their lives regularly. Have you ever dreamt about life being that way for you? It can.

When you add enthusiasm to your life, it’s as if a unique measure of “magic” has been added to your future. An easy way to be enthusiastic is to simply walk and talk 10% faster. Just turn up the heat a little bit. It’s like the difference between water heating at 211 degrees or at 212. At 211 it’s just heating. At 212 it’s boiling.

Another way to add enthusiasm to your life is by having a pat answer when people ask you “How are you?” The average person will give you all kinds of reasons why things are not as they wish. See if any of these sound familiar: “It’s been rough recently; OK; Not bad; Things could be better.”

Is that how you want your life to be? Of course not. So, if it’s not what you want, don’t say it. May I suggest one word that will help you focus on a positive, enthusiastic life? That word is UNBELIEVABLE. I’m not asking you to lie. That word will cover both ends of the spectrum.

However, when you respond with the word UNBELIEVABLE, enthusiastically, most everyone will give you the benefit of the doubt and think that you’re doing great. If they ask, “Are things really going that good?” respond by saying, “All I can say is, it’s UNBELIEVABLE.” I guarantee a smile on the other person’s face and you’ll feel better too.

The bottom line is that it’s very important to control your mind. The subconscious mind doesn’t remain idle. If you don’t focus on positive attitudes, it will feed on thoughts that reach it as a result of neglect. That usually means negative thoughts. The mind is like a garden where weeds grow. Unless a conscious effort is made to keep weeding, those weeds will continue to grow and eventually ruin the garden.

So, may I suggest that you add some enthusiasm to your life? This is basically a one-act play. When the curtain goes down, life is over. Thus, when you don’t feel like doing something that needs to be done, why not proclaim, “It’s Showtime!”

An Affirmation of Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm adds vitality to my life. When I don’t feel like being enthusiastic, I pretend.