Years after the Stroke, I still have occasional speech aphasia. This can become very creative! I was trying to explain “Search Engine Optimisation” to someone who wasn’t really interested, but my aphasic speech centre sent, “Self-Engine Optimisation” to my mouth! I was interested! I loved it. It was like Neil Gaiman misspelling “Caroline” and coming up the wonderful character: Coraline! Once you have the ‘spark’ of an idea to ignite your creative fuel, you’re away! (…with the fairies!)

With a bit of joyous reflection, it morphed into the “Self-Energising Optimisation” of the blog’s title.

Let’s frame the rest of the blog between two quotes. One from George Bernard Shaw and the other from Leonard Cohen…
“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” George Bernard Shaw
“There is a crack in everything — that’s how the light gets in.” Leonard Cohen

I think these two quotes bring together many of the themes I have blogged on in 2025. Firstly, we have ‘agency’ – we have within our grasp the opportunity to change our minds about anything. Once the mind changes, everything else follows from the perceptual shift. Let shift happen! Secondly, we are all crackpots! Life has a way of damaging our dreams of perfection. How we respond to the cracks that appear makes the difference between despair and determination. I have tried despair – it has ‘cost’ me a couple of years hiding under the duvet. Determination is far more energising if tempered with realism.

So even though I know some will reject the idea that we can energise ourselves – optimise ourselves – seeing it as shallow psychology - I will still share in the hope that I ignite a spark in others.

Here is our cord of three strands needed for Self-Energising Optimisation!

Strand 1: Fuel - What fills your tank? (Introvert/extrovert energy sources, motivators.)
Strand 2: Ignition - What turns intention into action? (Often linked to clarity of purpose.)
Strand 3: Maintenance - What keeps the engine running smoothly? (Rituals, rest, reflection.)

Yes, if I ask where people get their energy, the introvert-to-extrovert continuum is well known. This means being energised by solitude on the one hand (NOT isolation), and being energised by human interaction at the other end of the spectrum. However, we can go deeper, even in a short blog! What drains your fuel tanks? And more subtly: What energy source are you reluctant to admit you need? (Silence? Chaos? Solitude? Collaboration?)

For more fuel types, check out our blogs here on Moodscope on the Nine Motivators (9 fuels) or jump straight to this link: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-i-wrote-book-mapping-motivation-james-sale/ to whet your appetite. Then, know that Caroline is authorised to share my email address with anyone who would like to dig deeper with me, especially if you’d like free access to my 2026 series on my new Motivational YouTube Channel.

The keystone is always going to be your heartfelt answer to this question: what energises me? Then expose yourself to more of it!

Ignition is living life on purpose – and will be the subject of my next blog.

But let me close with my Achilles Heel: no maintenance. I love innovation and starting things, but maintenance is about as exciting as the Child Maintenance Service!

In 2026 be kind to your ‘vehicle’ – your body. It carries a valuable passenger – you!

Mens sana in corpore sano – the Latin phrase meaning "a healthy mind in a healthy body," reminding us of the strong connection between physical and mental well-being.

Fill up, ignite, maintain!

Lex

A Moodscope member