Mojo and Self-Confidence

The term Mojo comes from voodoo practice and it is usually the name given to a bag full of crystals, herbs, written words or other superstitious things that give the wearer special protection or powers [Reference]. Mojo can often be associated with other superstitious concepts like luck. Having it is good - losing it is bad! The possessor of mojo will often believe that good things can happen to them just for possessing the good luck charm. We often talk about losing our mojo or not having mojo as a reason for our lack of desire or inability to train well.

Webster's defines self-confidence as "Freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities". Self-confidence is an attitude of the mind that says, I will do my best to accomplish my desired goal. And I will have courage to do so amongst any dangers. Sometimes you will not be justly rewarded for your efforts by your external environment, but this does not matter because it is out of your control. Self-confidence means you will do as much as you can to hold up your end of the bargain.

Contrasting the two, Mojo is a belief that you can induce some sort of supernatural forces to gain your desired goal, while Self-Confidence says you can contribute to your effort to do the very best that is possible at all times. Self-confidence says that it is the internal struggle that is more important - the struggle with the self. Mojo says the external is more important - that you can use supernatural powers to gain something that you are not really worth of or capable of.

Both are really anchored on the the idea of belief.

Since I like the word "Mojo", and the idea of self-confidence, I'm going merge the cool word with the personal attitude to mean a belief in your ability to accomplish something from this point forward.


Now here's where the leap of faith comes in.


I have a big question, and it is Can you increase your Mojo with your own effort?

I believe you can!  I think building up your self-confidence can be done every day of the week.  It's just like building up your endurance, or your speed.  But it happens at moments in the training - mostly at the moments when you second guess your abilities but you keep running.  Or you run to your absolute limit, and then you run just a little further. When you really want to stop and walk to catch your breathe but you keep running.  When you need to use the Jedi Mind trick on yourself when everything looks terrible.

Since I started running, I have kept a log of my mood.  The things that I have observed in terms of mood are:

• My heart rate - if I am tired and my heart rate is racing, I can't find my Mojo if it was stapled to my head
• My home life - if I am not doing my best at home, enjoying my duties as a husband, friend, son, father, etc., then I also can't find my Mojo
• My distance - I never let my gut decide anything in the first 30 minutes of running (this is something that Jill has also mentioned to me) I can usually adjust to my running in the first 1 1/2 k (mile) - but ask me in the first few minutes and I'll tell you "I have no Mojo today!"

So far, I have managed my heart rate, made sure the ducks are all aligned at home, and I'm warmed up deep in the run - and I have found my Mojo every time!

However the competitive Mojo needs to be worked on by running more races.  And I am trying to include a race every few months to build up that competitive strain - and my rising to the occasion.


There is another mood that I have observed in myself that fights against Mojo.  That mood is fear.  Fear has been with me my whole life.  I think courage is not the absence of fear, but rather a will to over-come it.  Mojo also possesses this courage component. The only way I know to defeat the mood of fear is with greater and greater distances, difficulties, speeds, and exertions; reflections on those accomplishments; and an affirmation that I should try to overcome this challenge as well.  This you must do while training - continually pushing yourself to rise to the challenge.

If I could start you on your path of finding and keeping your Mojo, I would say this:

• Life is a precious gift, given to you by a benevolent creator that with tears in His eyes looks into your heart and writes with love that you are meant to be brilliant.  This brilliance is wound with a long ribbon called your decisions.
• When you run - remember that you are unwinding that ribbon with the right decisions - and you are shining.
• All you need to do is love back and your brilliance will shine naturally.
• Love is more powerful than anger or fear or greed.
• Do not be afraid to shine