15 Ways To Get Your Mojo Back During the COVID-19 Pandemic

How to get your mojo back

The COVID-19 (Coronavirus) threat has changed many aspects of our daily life.

But whether we are run-down from work, isolated from social distancing and taking steps to “shelter in place,” or feeling stressed if we need to leave home and make potentially dangerous visits to facilities for our daily work, we are going to face moments when we lose our inner energy.

We all have faced those moments.

We do not need the threat of a virus to cause us to lose that special power we have inside – that drive or energy that is synonymous with effectiveness and success.

When we are in our zone, the feeling inside us is an almost magical force capable of propelling us forward to great heights.

However, when we are missing that feeling – there is a flatness to our state of being that creeps in. Put simply: We have lost our mojo.

So, how can you get your mojo back?

Here are some steps you can take to get your mojo back.

Keep in mind as you review this list:

  • There is no pill or formula that will work for everyone or work every time.
  • You may find that some days it will not take a great deal of effort to get your mojo back, while other days you need to use a great deal of effort.

The important point to remember as you try ideas from this list (which is by no means complete) is to do your best to quiet your mind and remove yourself from any sense or feeling of panic before you start.

I realize that may be easier to say than to do in practice, especially given what is happening around us.

What helps me get started is to think of the words from the great American Ralph Waldo Emerson who once said, “For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind.”

Well, the same is true of fear or tension. For every minute you remain scared or uneasy, you are willfully giving up feeling peaceful.

Yes, the situation we are in is unique, but it will not be the end. It is one moment in time. So, do not allow yourself to drown in a flood of emotions. Take a breath and get your mind to a point of calmness. Peace is the best starting point for getting your mojo back.

Sleep to Recharge Your Batteries

How do you start to find peace and get your mojo back? The first thing I’ve discovered is that if I have lost my mojo it is typically because I am run-down or tired. Getting run-down or not getting enough sleep can lower your immune system, reduce blood flow and oxygen to your muscles and brain, and diminish your overall mood.

Fatigue is a mojo killer!

Though sometimes we feel better after just one night of rest and sleep, getting two days rest will really help return your body to a higher energy level. Caution: Do not oversleep, or you will find your body stays in a state of fatigue.

Wake Up Early and Get Moving (No Matter How Hard It Is)

Waking up early and getting moving creates a lot of positive reactions in your brain and throughout your body.

Many people do not consider themselves “morning people” and prefer to sleep in. The truth is – everyone’s body is fully capable of waking up early. We have conditioned ourselves through habits to associate greater pleasure with staying in bed and daydreaming then with getting up and moving.

Part of getting your mojo back will mean creating new habits and not succumbing to the old ones. It takes time. But if you start waking up early and getting active in the morning, it will help improve your thinking, productivity and health, and be a great step towards getting your mojo back.

Exercise

It is true, there are no more 5 am Orangetheory classes, pickup basketball games or late day stops at the gym. But exercise remains an important way to recapture our mojo.

So, how do we exercise during a pandemic where we are asked to “shelter in place”?

The key is to just get started. Keep it simple. You don’t need weights, resistance bands or a Peloton with an online racing community. Start by doing some pushups and some jumping jacks. The number is not important – what is important is getting your heart rate up.

Begin with just 10 or 15 minutes of exercise and see how you feel.

As the weather is warming-up in many parts of the country, you can go out running or walking.

Exercise will help to get your blood flowing faster, which will get more oxygen to your brain and muscles. This will give you an energy boost and help you to get your mojo back.

Get Organized

When I say “get organized” I don’t mean download a bunch of time management apps for your phone or sort all your wrapping paper by holiday in plastic containers.

Simply lay out your schedule for the day. Create some goals and be sure to include a creative project to start and other ‘to dos’ that you can quickly tackle.

If you have a blueprint and create some structure to your day, it will enable you to accomplish more. When we can see our accomplishments that helps create positive feelings and a sense of success. Positive energy and success are feed our mojo.

Mojo Does Not Work with Anger, Fear, Pity or Sorrow

Mojo is NOT compatible with anger, fear, pity or sorrow. If those are the emotions you have flowing through your body, you will not be able to get your mojo back.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. “Have some empathy, Mike! We are living through a [INSERT ADULT LANGUAGE / COLORFUL METAPHOR] pandemic!”

You may find it hard to believe, but I hear you loud and clear, and I am empathetic. I’m living through the same thing. Nevertheless, difficult as these times may be, you will not be able to get your mojo back if your mind and soul are stuck in a negative state.

To start to break out of your funk you need to think about all the good in your life. Start with the most basic positive facts about your life and say them aloud. Letting the words come out of your mouth will better affirm a positive state of being. The more positive thoughts you have – the closer you will get to restoring your mojo.

Visualization

It may seem corny to some but visualizing yourself being successful or doing something you have always wanted to do can be a great way to generate some mojo.

I’ve used visualization before exercising as well as while I am running and swimming. I have used it in preparation for events I’ve spoken at, as well as for things that have not yet taken place that I am striving to achieve.

While no moment will turn out exactly as we planned, visualization can help generate some of the energy that makes up our mojo.

Outline Your Strengths, and Short-Term and Long-Term Goals

One of the most consistent exercises in personal achievement experts recommend is to outline what your strengths are as a person.

What do you do well in life?

What professional skills do you have?

Another tactic is to outline some short-term and long-term goals. Create a list of places you want to go, skills you want to gain, books you want to read, etc.

But don’t put these things in your computer. If you type them up and stash them away in a folder, they will rarely be seen. Get a piece of paper and write them out. Then hang your lists on a refrigerator or someplace where you can see them each day. The truth is we react more positively to things when they are on paper and in front of us each day.

Connect with People

Connecting with people in our age of social distancing is still possible, and it is an amazing way to get your mojo back.

For starters, pick up the phone and call someone. Ask them how they are doing. Listen to their stories and share some of your own.

Create a virtual forum and invite people around you to participate. In “How To Socialize When Practicing Social Distancing,” I outlined a few ways you can do this. Click here to read.

Open yourself to learn and laugh.

Interacting with others can be a quick way to elevate mood, establish a new relationship or bond, or even make a life-changing connection that jump-starts your mojo.

Be Gracious, Kind and Giving

Obviously, we should always strive to be gracious, kind and giving. However, when you’ve lost your mojo and you’re trying to get it back – focusing on generosity and kindness can really create a strong and positive sense of being.

Remember, the highest state of generosity and kindness is to give without expecting anything in return (and to do good acts anonymously whenever possible).

If you hear about a friend or neighbor who lost a job – send a VISA gift card with $50.

If you order food – double your usual tip to help support a delivery person.

If you know someone who is isolated – send them some flowers or a nice note.

Address Your Stress

Stress is a part of our lives whether we like it or not. And there is a good stress and bad stress.

Which one do you have?

Chances are – if you’ve lost your mojo – you’ve got some bad stress.

Bad stress is the feeling that you are both overwhelmed and not working towards anything you believe in or think will succeed.

Stress can be reduced by asking others to take burdens off your shoulders. It also can be reduced through physical action where your body is able to release tension.

Recognize that you may not be able to address your stress on your own. You may need help. This can prove difficult given social distancing and self-quarantines; however, you need to let people know how you are feeling so you can come up with a solution. Stress is a mojo killer.

Do Something Fun

Fun comes in many forms.

You can write a story or a poem.

Create an Adobe Spark page and do something fun online.

Paint.

Order a home garden kit and grow some vegetables.

Take an online class or create on at Catoctin College.

Having fun is a great way to get your mojo back.

We may not be able to do ALL the fun things we want but search online for fun activities to do while you are at home.

Also remember – you are not confined to your home. We need to be careful about coming in close contact with others and what we touch. But you can still go outside. Why not wake up early and take pictures of the sunrise?

Fun can take many forms.

Remove Distractions

We were inundated with distractions before the COVID-19 coronavirus threat. Now that many of us are home, the distractions are coming at us non-stop. Between Facebook, cable news, talk radio and more – there is an endless stream of opinions and news.

The problem with all these distractions is that they drain our energy and take us away from doing what we need to do.

So, have a day (or even a block of several hours) where you remove all the distractions.

Identify a small list of your main priorities and focus in on those.

Distractions can be real mojo killers, and if we want to restore our energy they need to go.

Get Some Sunlight

Sunlight is vital to your body. It helps with digestion, food absorption, maintain your insulin balance, and generates physical and mental energy.

There are many studies that link sunlight to the promotion of stronger bones and heart, as well as improving your immunity.

So, go outdoors and absorb some sunlight each day. A little sun can do a lot of for state of mind and your body.

Improve Your Diet

Eating poorly is another mojo killer.

With supermarkets facing shortages, it can be difficult to make a lot of improvements in your diet. But it can be done.

Start small and find simple ways to improve how you eat, and gradually phase things in.

You will find a phased approach will generate better short-term and long-term results, and help you get your mojo back.

Lastly… Be Present

Woody Allen once said, “80 percent of success is showing up.”

Well, if you are in a state of self-quarantine – “showing up” has been replaced by “being present.”

That means wake-up and participate in everything you need to. Clearly, we need to manage our time and priorities, but when isolated – we can fall into the trap of self-isolating too much.

Do not allow your mood or events around you dictate your actions and life.

While showing up or being present is not a guarantee of success, it is an essential component of restoring good mojo.

Do you have steps that you take to get your mojo back? Share them in the comments section below.

Read more
No Comments

Your First Attempt Won’t Be Your Best Or Your Last

Wright Brothers Plane - First Attempt

Whenever we start off on a new invention, begin to cultivate an idea or just start something new, it is important to remember:

  1. Dreams and ideas take time. And…
  2. The first attempt won’t be your best or last.

116 yrs ago today (December 17, 2020), the Wright Brothers made the first successful flight of a self-propelled, heavier-than-air plane.

It was an incredible moment. Their plane stayed in the air for 12 seconds and went 120 feet.

Think about how far we have come, and how far we can travel thanks to advances in aviation.

It all started with a 12 second flight that went 120 feet.

The lesson we should all take from that first flight is to stay inspired and stay motivated and keep trying.

Accept your success, even if it feels small. Because it every successful step brings you closer to taking a big leap.

Read more
No Comments

Life Is An Experiment

“All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

We sometimes forget just how unique we are, because we are taught from such an early age – and all throughout our schooling – to conform to rigid standards. Passing a standard is considered a measurement of success, whereas failing to meet it is considered failure.

Rarely do we get many opportunities as we grow up (and even after we have grown) to truly experiment and to fail in a way that is acceptable to others, least of all ourselves.

Experimentation and failure are not negatives. All of our life is an experiment. Embrace that reality, and you will live a more complete life filled with a wide range of experiences and perspectives.

Read more
No Comments

The world is but a canvas to our imagination

This is one of my favorite quotes from Henry David Thoreau. I often refer to it when I am struggling or in need of inspiration or motivation.

Imagination allows us to form images in our minds. We can recreate moments in time, adapt or modify those moments, or create new ones. We also can do the same thing with objects around us. We can form things that do not exist and simulate how they would function. Or we can replay what we have seen or change the way current things are used or function.

When Thoreau talks about the world being a canvas to our imagination, he is saying that we can take our dreams and bring them into the real world – make them tangible so others can see, hear or touch them.

In many ways, the world around is a canvas. 

And like a painter, we each possess the tools to shape it.

Every move we make through the world is a brush stroke that shapes the landscape around us.

Read more
No Comments

20 Inspirational and Motivational Quotes For Entrepreneurs And Business Leaders

If you have ever looked for really good inspirational and motivational quotes, there is a bounty of websites with long lists of quotes from classical and modern sources.

In my opinion, I think quite a few of them have quotes that really miss the mark, and lack the right kind of inspirational or motivational quality.

Below I have put together 20 quotes that I think really help set a tone.

They address the importance of determination, forming positive habits, and the belief that you can shape your attitude and dictate your level of positive energy, or alternatively, be defeatist and negative.

There are quotes that address the need for individual achievement, and taking the responsibility for doing into one’s own hands.

And there are quotes that also recognize we never succeed alone – and that helping others achieve their goals is part of our own path to success.

Overall, so much of life is what we make of it.

We have control of our destiny, no matter how difficult our environment, or the obstacles in our path.

Too many people don’t believe in themselves, or find ways to sabotage their personal and professional success by succumbing to limiting or defeatist thoughts.

These quotes are one way we can start to change that attitude and habit.

20 Inspirational and Motivational Quotes For Entrepreneurs And Business Leaders

“If you want to make your dreams come true, the first thing you have to do is wake up.” – J.M. Power

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.” – Aristotle

“Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.” – Henry Ford

“You must be the change you want to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi

“You can get everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.” – Zig Ziglar

“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.” – Mark Twain

“Desire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire which transcends everything.” – Napoleon Hill

“Vision without action is daydream. Action without vision is nightmare.” – Japanese Proverb

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“The secret of success is learning how to use pain and pleasure instead of having pain and pleasure use you. If you do that, you’re in control of your life. If you don’t, life controls you.” – Tony Robbins

“People become really quite remarkable when they start thinking that they can do things. When they believe in themselves they have the first secret of success.” – Norman Vincent Peale

“We are all inventors, each sailing out on a voyage of discovery, guided each by a private chart, of which there is no duplicate. The world is all gates, all opportunities.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.” – Lou Holtz

“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing — that’s why we recommend it daily.” – Zig Ziglar

“Watch, listen, and learn. You can’t know it all yourself. Anyone who thinks they do is destined for mediocrity.” – Donald Trump

“Eighty percent of success is showing up.” – Woody Allen

“A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.” – Albert Einstein

“I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions.” – Stephen Covey

“You see, it’s never the environment; it’s never the events of our lives, but the meaning we attach to the events – how we interpret them – that shapes who we are today and who we’ll become tomorrow.” –  Tony Robbins

 

Read more
No Comments

Hostility And Anger Are On The Rise. Here Is Why We Must Concentrate On Positive Energy

Story of the Two Wolves - Motivation and Positive Energy

In our current political and social climate, we can all see division and hostility growing.

Polls show that people trust media less, and gravitate to specific sources of news and information in search of an ideological perspective that mirrors their own. What’s more, people are becoming more entrenched in their political associations (while simultaneously feeling that those political institutions do not reflect or act with our bests interests in mind).

Too many of us today moralize our beliefs.

Hence, when we see someone who supports a different candidate, or has a stance on an issue, or a perspective on society that appears too wildly different than our own, we consider our opinions righteous. Conversely, other opinions become wrong or evil. And the people who disagree with us start getting labeled as: uneducated, racist, sexist, phobic, mentally ill, hateful, privileged, angry, stupid, and more.

Overall, the trend we are seeing is an increase in the intensity of rhetoric that people use, less tolerance of others, and more frequent calls for hostile action or violence to redress our grievances.

In short, more people are becoming divided, and increasingly feeding their anger.

This is not how to build a stronger, and more successful society.

I often think of the story of the “Two Wolves” (attributed to the Cherokee Indians) as being one of the most simple, and yet one of the most powerful ways to convey how adverse and counter-productive this kind of trend is to us personally, as well as to our communities, and the country as a whole.

This is the story:

An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life.

“A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy.

“It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.”

He continued, “The other is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.

“The same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too.”

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?”

The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

Think about this story for a moment.

It is powerful, because it is simple, insightful, and incredibly accurate.

The more we feed anger, the stronger it grows. The more we feed guilt, or allow others to tell us we should be guilty, the stronger the guilt grows. The more we feed a sense of entitlement or envy, the more those things grow.

Alternatively, the more we feed a sense of joy about the world and ourselves, the more that grows within us.

Now, I understand many of my friends believe in their soul that their fear, anger, guilt – whatever it is – is justified.

They also believe in the righteousness of their convictions.

In many ways, this post (and its sentiment) will have little to no impact on the majority of people reading it.

Deep down, none of us wants to believe that how we are feeling could somehow be counter-productive, or fueling even greater problems for ourselves or others.

What’s more, there will be those who will say, “How dare you say I am wrong to feel (insert feeling).”

Do not misunderstand. I am not saying that feeling a certain way is wrong. I have always said that people are never wrong to feel the way they do. That feeling comes from someplace. It may rational or irrational, but it is produced by your mind and body, and should be respected.

However, we are wrong when we allow those negative feelings – be they anger, guilt, superiority, regret, pride, etc – to fuel our actions.

When we feed negativity, we are not using our energy in a positive and sustainable way.

You may think you are fighting for a cause or are being righteous, enlightened, or morally just, but in truth you are not building anything lasting for yourself, or impacting society for the better.

Action from anger, hate, despair, fear, or frustration is never as effective as action motivated by good, or positive energy.

We only build things that are sustainable when we act out of a truly positive motivation.

This is why I hope that more people will think about all the things they say and write.

Think about your motivations, and the type of energy that is fueling them.

Ask yourself honestly, “What am I building? Am I building something? Or am I only tearing down?”

And ask yourself, “Is the world really a place driven by negative forces?”

The answer is: Only if you feed them.

Read more
No Comments

15 Ways To Get Your Mojo Back

15 Ways To Get Your Mojo Back - Michael Hackmer

Every single one of us have faced that moment when we realize that we’ve lost that special power, drive or energy that is synonymous with effectiveness and success. It is an almost magical force that propels us forward. And when we are missing it – there is a flatness to our state of being that creeps in. In short: we’ve lost our mojo.

As universal as the feeling of being in the zone when your mojo is on and you are on top of everything, so is the sensation that you’ve lost it and need to get it back.

I’ve had ups and downs over the last several months as I started my own company and have been working on various projects. But losing mojo does not just apply to entrepreneurs and business owners. Whether a relationship has ended, you were passed over for a promotion, or the world and some guy named Murphy has decided that what can go wrong, will go wrong, there are many forces that can cause you to lose your mojo.

So, how can you get your mojo back?

I spent some time looking for those answers not too long ago, and collected a wide variety of suggestions. One thing to take into account as you review the list below is that there is no pill or formula that will work for everyone or work every time. What’s more, you may find that some days it will not take a great deal of effort to get your mojo back, while other days you need to expel a great deal of effort.

The important thing to remember as you try ideas from this list (which is by no means exhaustive or complete) is to do your best to quiet your mind and remove yourself from panic before you start. If you were thrown into the ocean and panic – flailing your arms around and screaming – you will quickly drown. So, why would you do the same thing on dry land and drown in flood of your own emotions? Peace is the perfect starting point to get your mojo back.

1. Meditate And Sleep – Recharge Your Batteries

How do you start to find peace and get your mojo back? The first thing I’ve discovered is that if I have lost my mojo it is typically because I am run-down or tired. Getting run-down or not getting enough sleep can lower your immune system, reduce blood flow and oxygen to your muscles and brain, and diminish your overall mood. Fatigue is a mojo killer! Though sometimes we feel better after just one night of rest and sleep, getting two to three days worth will really help return your body to a higher energy level. Meditation also helps. Here are some great beginner steps to meditation.

2. Wake Up Early And Get Moving (No Matter How Hard It Is)

I’ve known many people who do not consider themselves “morning people” and prefer to sleep in. The truth is – everyone’s body is fully capable of waking up early. We have conditioned ourselves through habits to associate greater pleasure with laying in bed and daydreaming then with getting up and moving. What makes getting up early hard for so many people is that we are battling our own minds and the routines we have created. Part of getting your mojo back will mean creating new habits and not succumbing to the old ones. It takes time. But if you start waking up early and getting active in the morning, it will help improve your thinking, productivity and health, and be a great step towards getting your mojo back.

3. Exercise

I have to admit – crawling out of bed at 5 am, immersing my body in cold water, and swimming up and down a pool for an hour or more was not the most motivational line of thinking to enter my brain when it came time to go exercise. Instead I thought about how important swimming was going to be for my heart and my body, and how much I enjoyed the feeling of pushing through a difficult set. The more I did it, the more I began to get excited to get the pool to swim, and afterwards, get into my post-swimming routine. The same was true for running. I was never a runner. At first, I ran down to the end of my street and walked the rest of my route. I felt kind of pathetic at first. But the truth is – no one else cares how far I am running but me. So, I decided to run a little farther each day. Now I run at least 3 miles a day, and I am working to push it to 4. The impact? I now use exercise as my time to clear my head, come up with new ideas, challenge myself and ultimately feel stronger and better. I look forward to it! What’s more, since June I’ve lost over 25 lbs and I am stronger than at any time in at least 15 years! Granted, not everyone will get the same benefits from exercise as I have received. But even a light workout in the morning where you get your heart-rate up high will help get your brain and body into a better state.

4.  Get Organized

When I say “get organized” I don’t mean run out to Staples and buy calendars, or download time management apps for your phone, or drop $500 at the Container Store. Just simply lay out your schedule for the day, as well as some goals, a creative project to start and other ‘to dos’ that you can quickly tackle. Having a blueprint and creating some structure to your day will enable you to accomplish more. When we can see our accomplishments that helps create positive feelings of success. And success is tied to our mojo.

5. Mojo Does Not Mix With Bullshit, Pitty Or Sorrow

Mojo is absolutely not compatible with bullshit, pitty or sorrow. If those are the emotions you have flowing through your body, you will not be able to get your mojo back. Now, I know what you’re thinking. “Have some empathy, Mike! I just [INSERT CHALLENGE OR PAINFUL STORY HERE].” You may find it hard to believe, but I hear you loud and clear, and I am empathetic. Anyone who knows me personally is well aware that I have experienced quite a few painful moments and seemingly insurmountable challenges over my life time. But that still does not change the fact that you will not be able to get your mojo back if your mind and soul are stuck in a depressed state. The way to start to break out of your funk is to think about all the good in your life, starting with the fact that you are alive. Think about everything that you enjoy and everyone, and start to embrace the best aspects of your life.

6. Visualize Success

It may seem corny to some, but visualizing yourself being successful can be a great way to generate some mojo. I’ve used visualization before exercising as well as while I am running and swimming. I have used it in preparation for events I’ve spoken at, as well as for things that have not yet taken place that I am striving to achieve. While no moment will turn out exactly as we planned, visualizing success can help generate some of the energy that makes up our mojo.

7. Outline Your Strengths, Short-Term And Long-Term Goals

I love reading Tony Robbins and other experts in personal achievement because they really know their stuff. One of the most consistent exercises these experts recommend that you can do to get your mojo back is outline what your strengths are as a person. What do you do really well in life? What professional skills do you have? Etc. Then outline some short-term and long-term goals. I did this at the end of last year, and it really gave me a great boost. In fact, whenever I feel like I need to get my mojo back, I return to that list and update it. I also check off things I’ve accomplished. My old government affairs mentor once told me not to send her emails because, “Policy is paper.” And she was right. We can send a million documents electronically to people, but we react differently to things when they are printed off and in front of us. They are more tangible and more akin to action.

8. Connect With People

Connecting with people is an amazing way to get your mojo back. For starters, picking up the phone or talking with someone in person brings a whole new set of emotions to you. You learn from talking with other people, laugh and open your mind to new ideas and experiences that are not your own. Interacting with others can be a quick way to elevate mood, establish a new relationship or bond, or even make a life-changing connection that jump-starts your mojo. I’ve had this experience too just connecting with people on LinkedIn in groups I am involved in. In one case, a quick online conversation around a topic of mutual interest turned into a Google hangout discussion via video. Before I knew it – a wonderful new friendship was born.

9. Be Gracious, Kind And Giving

Obviously, we should always strive to be gracious, kind and giving. However, when you’ve lost your mojo and you’re trying to get it back – focusing on generosity and kindness can really create a strong and positive sense of being. Remember, the highest state of generosity and kindness is to give without expecting anything in return (and to do good acts anonymously whenever possible).

10. Address Your Stress

Stress is apart of our lives whether we like it or not. And there is a good stress and bad stress. Which one do you have? Chances are – if you’ve lost your mojo – you’ve got some bad stress. Bad stress is the feeling that you are both overwhelmed and not working towards anything you believe in or think will succeed. Stress can be reduced by asking others to take burdens off your shoulders. It also can be reduced through a massage, sex, a hug or some other physical action where your body is able to release tension. If you cannot address your stress on your own (many of us think we can handle it alone), then you will need to force yourself to let someone else in to help you. You will have to fight your habit of going it alone, and try and create a new habit.

11. Do Something Fun And/Or Adventurous

Fun and adventure comes in many forms, but they are essential ingredients in my view to getting your mojo back. Think about all the things you enjoy doing. Did you love model trains as a kid? Did you enjoy going on love roller-coasters, white-water rafting or hunting for antiques? Maybe you miss bar-crawling with friends or always wanted to try it? Who knows? Make a list of those things you enjoyed and set out to do something to shake up your life a bit.

12. Remove Distraction

This is the most simple step: remove distraction. Identify your main priorities and focus in on those, and cut out, temporarily, all those things that are really distracting you from achieving your best or sucking away your good mojo. This can lead to painful and difficult decisions, but in our complex lives distractions can be real mojo killers.

13. Get Some Sunlight

Sunlight is vital to your body. It helps with digestion, food absorption, maintain your insulin balance, and generates physical and mental energy. There are many studies that link sunlight to the promotion of stronger bones and heart, as well as improving your immunity. Getting a healthy dose of sun does not mean you need to head for Miami Beach (though I’d hardly blame you), but it does mean you need to get outdoors and absorb some sunlight each and every day. As a New Englander (now currently living in the Mid-Atlantic) I know that we have fewer days of good sunlight. But if you are trying to get your mojo back – finding the time and best way to get a little sun can do a lot of for state of mind and your body.

14. Improve Your Diet

Eating poorly is another mojo killer. I was in the need of serious mojo a few months ago, and decided to stop eating out. I cut out soda, fast-food and other things. It took time. I admit – I cheated every once in a while at the start. But the more I ate very lean meat, vegetables and started eating better foods each day, the more energy I got. Also, my desire to pull into a fast-food drive through diminished to the point where now I do not crave it at all. Now, as a caveat, I am not saying you give up hamburgers and start eating salads right away. I did not do that either. In fact, if you try that as a way to get your mojo back, you will fail because such dramatic change rarely is sustainable. Start small and find simple ways to improve how you eat, and gradually phase things in. You will find a phased approach will generate better short-term and long-term results, and help you get your mojo back.

15. Lastly… Show Up!!!

Woody Allen once said, “80 percent of success is showing up.” How many times have each of us headed out to do something, only to debate a thousand times in our minds whether it was worth the time? I remember driving with my girlfriend into Washington, DC to see a band she liked. She was on the fence, because she had so much work. She literally pulled off the highway and then got back on, only to pull off the highway again and get back on. In the end, we got to concert and she had a great time. My daughter as well has been on the fence about joining clubs or doing other things, only to show up and have a great experience. If you REALLY want to get your mojo back – show up! Do not back down from things, or let a particular mood dictate your actions. While showing up is not a guarantee of success, it is an essential component.

[This post originally appeared in the Social Web Tactics blog on 10/16/2013]

Do you have steps that you take to get your mojo back? Share them below!

Read more
No Comments

Achieve Togetherness With The Right People

Togetherness

“If You Want To Go Fast, Go Alone. If You Want To Go Far, Go Together.” – African Proverb

Togetherness is a natural force we all gravitate towards. But we must achieve it with the right people.

Being together with the people who inspire us, motivate us, and care for us, gives us greater emotional strength, peace, love, insight, respect, humility, and knowledge, as well as a more profound way to excel as individuals.

My wife, Carolina, always reminds me that “together is better.” And with her home now after several weeks in Peru, I can feel even more deeply just how much I missed her, and how powerful and great her love is to me.

As spring inches forward, let these days be a time to enhance relationships that enrich your life by enriching the lives of others; seek out those who have loved you and given without condition their kindness, and give them love and kindness; but most of all, strive for more togetherness with people who inspire you, motivate you and care for you.

Because together is better.

Read more
No Comments