How do I stay enthusiastic when I’m kind of Boring?
I used to think I was the most enthusiastic guy in the world. But truthfully, we’re all kind of boring. Which begs the question, why are we all boring? God created you to be special. If you feel like you’re boring — talk to God. People seem to get pushed aside because they’re construed to be boring or un-enthusiastic, but God will show you what you can do and how he has made you to be “not boring.” It’s our enthusiasm (in God)-ness that makes us exciting. This ought especially be true when we’re talking about God. The story of Jesus is the farthest thing from boring there is!
If we can’t muster the enthusiasm needed to participate in the situation at hand, should I remove myself from that situation and re-evaluate?
I was tempted to say something to the effect that if you can’t be sincere in your enthusiasm, then you ought to take a step back. But we need to watch ourselves here, as this can become an excuse for not being enthusiastic…for not being ”in God.” If you can’t muster the enthusiasm, check how you are with God. Don’t use this as an excuse. Focus everyday on what your life is about, and you’ll get enthusiastic.
How can we recover from someone mistaking our enthusiasm for sarcasm?
Honesty. You need to have honesty here. We’re smart, we can read people, so you should be able to tell when you’re being sarcastic…even if those around you don’t pick up on it. This can be an occasion for a mixup, at which point you need to clarify with that person who thought you were being sarcastic that you were being genuine. Be careful to be honest with each other when you perceive something as fake, and be careful when you’re talking about God to make clear the parts where you’re being sarcastic and the important genuine aspects.