The internet defines mojo as having confidence, energy, or enthusiasm. Sadly, I’ve lost my mojo. I can’t pinpoint an exact date as to when this happened, but if I had to guess, I would say that it definitely happened in 2019, which was not all that long ago – Happy New Year!
2019 was a tough year. I lost my Dad in April at the young age of 79 to COPD. This was the most gut wrenching experience I had since the loss of my grandmother in 1993. The feeling of sadness and loss was just too much to bear. During this time I interviewed for a new position at the company I work for in the field of communications. I had been working my tail off trying to break into the business of writing. After my first interview for a Sr. Analyst position in communications, I got a call back that they thought I would be better suited for the Manager position. I was floored! Things like this don’t happen to me, but I ran with it. I had a follow up interview for the Manager position and I got it!
Although I was excited my enthusiasm wavered because I couldn’t stop thinking about my dad and my mom who was left alone in New York. My focus shifted on getting her to move closer to me and my family in Georgia. In the meantime, I was trying to find my way in this new position with little to no direction. Not only that, I was having difficulties with my 14 year old son. He has ADHD and school is a very big struggle for him, along with the behavior that goes with his diagnosis. I felt as though I was barely able to keep my head above water. On top of all of this, I am currently enrolled in a Master’s program that stresses me out beyond belief.
So, needless to say, I’ve been feeling mojo-less. That of course got me to thinking, how can I get my mojo back? It’s really a mind over matter type of deal. I keep thinking to myself, I need to get motivated somehow but I can’t figure out how.
Then I read an article in the Harvard Business Review titled, Change Management – Your Problem Isn’t Motivation which lead me to an a-ha moment. It’s not motivation I’m lacking, its follow-through. The article explained motivation is in the mind and follow-through is in the practice – so the key to follow-through on something is to stop thinking. By shutting down the conversation in your head (that so many of us have) will allow you to follow-through on all the things you want to accomplish. How do I know this to be true? I used to practice what the article is talking about all the time. When I was more focused on working out at the gym, I didn’t necessarily always want to go, but what actually got me there was simply not thinking about it. I would go home, mindlessly pull on my workout gear and just head out the door. No muss, no fuss and no turning back. Before I knew it I was on that treadmill or in that class working up a sweat and felt much better afterward. The article goes on to say, “make a very specific decision about something you want to do and don’t question it” (Bregman, 2012).
If we can start small, one specific decision at a time, the path to a mojo filled life is sure to follow!
