Nick P.

@Tim: I have discovered a mindset that works well for me when faced with periods of, shall we say, fluctuating energy vs. time vs. goals....and that is to recognize them as just that, they are periods, and the pendulum will never really stop swinging on way or another.
The trick is to just keep going, even if the results, either at work or the dojo, aren't ideal, they are at least for a while the best you can do.

@Mary: I have to look up that article. I have recently begun to use the expression "Sometimes you have 5 pegs, but only 3 holes; which pegs are you going to pick? You can try to cram all the pegs in, but there remains only so many holes".