The word comes from the ancient Orphic (Orpheus) religious belief system as well as the writings of Plato. The two key meanings in English of the word are:

•Possession by a god, supernatural inspiration, prophetic or poetic ecstasy; and

•Rapturous intensity of feeling on behalf of a person, cause, etc: passionate eagerness in any pursuit.

It has been a traditional warning of ages, that it is our emotions that largely get human beings into trouble. Given the religious origins of the word enthusiasm and its meaning, it is understandable then that the word has been considered inferior to a great many other words such as love, bliss, joy.

In fact, a puritanical Christian definition of enthusiasm from the late 17th Century considers enthusiasm to be “fanciful, ill-regulated religious emotions or speculation.”

Yet as we have seen, emotions are a key component to memory recall and learning. Positive emotions, especially are required to be felt towards the voluntary learning of new things. Without sufficient emotional stimulation, even with the discipline of reading or practice, cognitive memory ability is reduced.

Therefore enthusiasm is a power value enabling us to tap into our emotions and stream them focused into the now moment.

In spite of the apparent oddness of the literal English translation of the word ENTHEOS, enthusiasm represents the intensity management value determining the level to which a person commits themselves to feeling and doing what they are doing in the now moment.

By considering the words “possession by UCA” instead of by a god, we can see in the word enthusiasm the Enthusiasm the full intensity of emotions and feelings of bliss that come those moments of inspiration during the reading of UCA and ME.

In considering the second definition, we see enthusiasm as the commitment of all our awareness (mind) and emotions (feelings) to the now moment. Whereas, the values of respect, honesty and consistency are largely disciplines of the mind- enthusiasm is the harnessing of that discipline with the full range of positive emotions at our disposal into the now moment.

One of the key arguments put up by ego in terms of re-considering desire is that without desire, we lose interest and without interest our lives become dull and boring. Certainly this sounds convincing and a well constructed argument until you ask the question - is there any alternative emotion value apart from desire/anticipation that works for the now?

We now see the value of enthusiasm is the answer.
Just as respect opens our minds awareness to the present, enthusiasm opens up our emotions to the present. Just as respect provides a platform for the discipline of mind in the now, enthusiasm provides a broad and strong scope for emotions of the now.