I've lost my passion for my job and I find myself going through the motions. How do I rekindle my professional mojo?

In practical terms you can use, this means three things. First, find a challenge at work or outside of it. For example, you might wish to take on a project no one else wants at the office, or you could choose to mentor someone there who could benefit from your experience. If you opt to focus on something outside of work, donate your time toward helping those in need. A good place to start is at VolunteerMatch (www.volunteermatch.org), which locates nonprofits in your area where your talents or interests would be of the most use.

Second, feed your spirit with a healthy diet, exercise, and even solitude. Often, professional burnout is marked by too much stress, which is aggravated by poor nutrition, insufficient exercise, and scarce time alone. You need to slow down and smell the proverbial roses.

Last, develop the attitude of gratitude. New research shows that regularly giving thanks for life's peaks and even its valleys can strengthen your immune system, and make you feel more alert, alive, and optimistic. Give these ideas a try, and your mojo, like the Force, will always be with you.