In Defense of "Mojo"

Sitting on the couch, laptop perched on my knees.  A sigh breaks the deafening silence that permeates my apartment.  What’s wrong with me?  I’m not lazy; I work hard.  So, why, oh why, can’t I get myself together?  I just need some motivation—I need to get my mojo  back.

That has been the crux of my sliding toward relapse concerning my health.  I’ve been waiting for some outside force to propel me to try again—to be committed again.  I’ve been aching to know someone cared before I started to care about myself.  However, I’ve recently (as in yesterday) learned that it doesn’t work like that.  The word mojo is defined as “an uncanny personal power or influence.”  Hmm, personal power, personal influence.  Reminds me of a scripture:

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.  - Psalm 42:5, King James Version

Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul?

Why are you crying the blues?

Fix my eyes on God——

soon I'll be praising again.

He puts a smile on my face.

He's my God.  - Psalm 42:5, The Message Paraphrase

My lack of motivation, or mojo, was because of misplaced hope.  I had placed all my hope in others rather than in God.  I hadn’t given myself enough credit for having the fruit of God’s Holy Spirit within me (see Galatians 5:22-23).  Part of that fruit is patience (longsuffering) and gentleness.  These are not just attributes to develop towards others: they are the way we should treat ourselves as well. 

Now, I am not saying that we don’t need others for accountability and fellowship, because we do need them for mental and spiritual health (see Ecclesiastes 4:8-12, I John 1:7).  But there is a difference between motivation and inspiration.  Inspiration from others is essential for our minds, motivation is what takes the inspiration of our minds to create action in our bodies.  Only we can truly motivate ourselves to action. 

I am inspired in my health walk by the success of others.  I like watching The Biggest Loser to be inspired by the success stories of the contestants.  I like reading health blogs, and listening to inspirational messages.  They keep me from giving up in my mind.  They remind me that it can be done.  I only need to take the inspiration and use it to fuel the motivation I get from God’s Word and His Spirit.

 So, what or who inspires you?  How does it help you motivate yourself to action?

(I know it's a little crass, but it's so funny...and true)