What To Do When You Lose Your Motivation as an Enneagram 8

At their best, Enneagram Eights are powerful, formidable characters. They’re independent and goal-driven with an energetic approach to life, always keeping their eye on the next big project.

But what happens when Eights lose their mojo?

As a type Eight, the first thing you'll notice is a feeling of being stuck. Maybe you can’t shake the sense of inertia that's been creeping up on you. You may find that your energy levels are lower than usual and you’re having trouble getting started on new projects or tasks.

When this happens, it's important to remember that your lack of motivation is just a temporary setback—it doesn't mean you're any less capable than you were before. If you’ve lost your motivation or you’re struggling to get into the groove of your next big project, here’s what you can do to get back on the right track.

1. Take inspiration from the people around you

The quickest and easiest way to get your mojo back as an Enneagram 8 is to surround yourself with people who you find inspiring, motivating and encouraging. While you’re fiercely independent, you also feed off the energy of other people. Getting back some of your usual buzz can be as simple as spending time with the people who make you feel good. 

Seek out friends and acquaintances with big ideas who can expand your mind and challenge your current perspective. Find people who are excited about the future. You’ll naturally soak up their energy and will probably be itching to start working on ideas and goals of your own.

It might be the case that you need to find people outside your usual scene to help you feel motivated. Maybe your current circle of friends or colleagues aren’t inspiring you. In that case, invest time in building new relationships, like getting in touch with an interesting person in your network or joining a new group or class to meet people you wouldn’t normally talk to. 

Sometimes chatting to someone new can be all you need to feel motivated and inspired again.

2. Open yourself up to different influences

As well as spending more time with inspiring people, you can also try opening yourself up to inspiring influences too. As Eights think deeply about the world around them and their place in it, and have a strong concern for social justice, it can be really helpful to read, learn and listen to new ideas.

For example, you could try:

• Going to a new museum, gallery or event
• Buying or renting three books you’ve never read before
• Taking an online course or degree
• Joining a debate group
• Getting involved in your local community

Find topics that you’re interested in and explore them more. Let yourself dive down the rabbit hole of a new hobby or interest. These things can all help you to look at the world a little differently and maybe help you find your mojo along the way.

3. Set new goals

If you’re lacking in motivation right now, maybe it’s time to set new goals for yourself. Sometimes the plans you have during one phase of your lives – like when you’re setting New Year's Resolutions, for example – aren’t necessarily relevant later on. 

The process of rewriting your goals can give you an opportunity to reevaluate where you are and refocus on what really matters to you right now. Maybe your priorities have shifted. Maybe the world around you has changed dramatically since you last set your goals (hello global pandemic!). 

If you’re feeling lost, don’t keep slugging away at the same old goals. Shake up your short-term or long-term aims to give yourself more motivation and start to get excited about the future again. This is a chance for you to hit reset on your plans.

4. Get a change of scenery

Feeling bored by your regular routine? If you’ve lost your motivation for your day-to-day life, it might be time to get a change of scenery. Eights are strongly motivated by their desire for independence and going somewhere new can be a really powerful way to help you get that sense of freedom and autonomy back. 

While it’s not possible for everyone to pack up their lives and go traveling around the world, there are multiple ways to mix up your environment. If you can’t visit a new country, try taking a day trip out of your city to go to the coast, get into nature or see somewhere new. Even just exploring somewhere closer to home like a different cafe or park can make a difference to your mindset. 

Sometimes the smallest adjustments to your day can help to open your eyes and reframe the way you look at your routines.

5. Find a cause you’re passionate about

Eights are defined by their passions. They care deeply about the causes close to their hearts and they can be hugely determined, powerful and motivated advocates when they find something or someone worth fighting for.

When you lose your motivation for your regular life, it can be really helpful to find a cause that you’re passionate about to get you moving forward again. That might mean volunteering for a charity, mentoring someone in your industry, or taking a more active role in local causes. If you’re feeling lost in your current job, you could consider setting up a side hustle in an industry that excites you.

Whatever you choose, make sure you’re doing something that makes your soul happy. Sometimes that’s all you need to get your motivation back.

6. Remember it’s just a phase

No matter how strong, capable and committed you are, you will have periods of your life where you feel unmotivated. Everyone struggles with phases where they feel lost or low. But remember that you won’t feel like this forever.

If you can work on finding people, topics or causes that you care about, you can give yourself a fighting chance to get your mojo back.

At their best, Eights are energetic, active and passionate people. Your natural state is to be determined and ambitious. While it can be weird and even unsettling to find you’ve lost your usual motivation, you have the power to find the path back to your most dynamic and driven self.