enthusiasm

a.k.a. passion, wholeheartedness, zest

Complementary virtues¶

• devotion
• fitness
• earnestness

Contrasting vices¶

• apathy
• being blase
• being half-hearted
• being ironic
• being unenthusiastic
• burnout
• fanaticism (vice of excess)
• there is a sort of arousal that can mimic enthusiasm but is really a sort of stress response; e.g being on edge, hyper-vigilant, etc.

Virtues possibly in tension¶

• equanimity

How to acquire or strengthen it¶

• vitality depends on health
• moderate exercise (e.g. brief, brisk walk)
• share positive events with others (NM Lambert AM Gwinn FD Fincham TF Stillman (2011) “Feeling tired? How sharing positive experiences can boost vitality” International Journal of Wellbeing)
• go outside (RM Ryan N Weinstein J Bernstein KW Brown L Mistretta M Gagné (2010) “Vitalizing effects of being outdoors and in nature” Journal of Environmental Psychology)

Notes and links¶

• Zest and Enthusiasm
• “Zest… is repeatedly in the Top 2 strengths most correlated with happiness… and has been found to cause happiness when targeted…”
  • C Buschor, RT Proyer, W Ruch “Self- and peer-rated character strengths…” (2013)
  • N Park, C Peterson, MEP Seligman “Strengths of Character and Well-Being” (2004)
  • RT Proyer, F Gander, T Wyss, W Ruch “The relation of character strengths to past, present, and future life satisfaction…” (2011)
  • RT Proyer, F Gander, S Wellenzohn, W Ruch “What good are character strengths beyond subjective well-being?…” (2013)

Mentioned elsewhere¶

• One of The VIA Institute’s "Character Strengths" (see their page)

Inspirational quotes¶

TBD