Choosing to be entusiastic
May 18, 2023
By Jeff Becraft
Back at a student session several years ago, after I had announced that snack break was over and it was time to get back at it, a student in all seriousness said to me, “Becraft… are you genuine?”
I responded, “You’ve been around me for almost a year… you tell me.”
She looked straight ahead and replied, “I have a hard time believing it is possible.”
I took the liberty to read between the lines a little bit.
“Do you mean do I ever get tired? — Yes.”
“Do I ever get discouraged? — Yes.”
“Do I ever feel like giving up? — Yes.”
“Do I ever get depressed? — Yes.”
“Enthusiasm is a choice. It’s just like love. Love is not a feeling; it is a choice. You choose to love someone. You choose to be enthusiastic. If you are tired, you can act tired or you can be enthusiastic. You’re tired either way… but which way do you think is more fun? Feelings are not the final word. If you just go by your feelings, then you’ll just get pushed around like a piece of driftwood.”
Today is a good day to choose to be enthusiastic.
Jeff Becraft is the Interim Director of Our Place of Hope and the Director Emeritus for Youth Corps and has dedicated much of his life to helping shift the vision of people’s lives. Youth Corps is a life-changing leadership development experience that inspires high school students to be leaders in the Midlands and beyond. You can connect with Jeff at [email protected].
