“Oh rats! I’ve lost my Mojo! Has anyone seen it? Here Mojo! Here Mojo!”
Mojo is one of those things that we didn’t necessarily realized we had — until we’ve lost it. Without Mojo, at best we feel flat, ineffectual, or listless. At worst, we feel like our world is falling apart. Wasn’t one of the plots in the Austin Powers’ franchise that Agent Powers had lost his Mojo and he had to get it back? Right here is where I could type a “Yeah baby!” just for old time’s sake, but I just can’t bring myself to borrow from The Kathie Lee Gifford Dusty Old “I Love the ’90s” Joke Collection.
Mojo is now loosely defined as “magic” or “power.” Its root is thought to be most likely African by way of the Gullah Islands’ word “moco” meaning “witchcraft.” Ninety years ago, give or take, using Mojo meant casting spells or charms. Now, however, it has taken on a much broader meaning in popular culture. It still means “magic,” but it can now be defined as “personal power.” My friend who was laid off from her job recently said optimistically, “It’s okay. I’m going to get my Mojo back soon.” I knew exactly what she meant. Mojo, when you’ve got it flowing, can really get you out of bed in the mornings.
There are some people who seem blessed with an excess of Mojo from the git go. Prior to Thanksgiving 2009, Tiger Woods had Mojo to burn with his gorgeous family, multiple golf triumphs, huge endorsements, and his bazillion dollars. Now the whole world knows, really more than we ever cared to, about his private mess. It would appear that Tiger, who has been in sex rehab for 45 days, has lost his Mojo. Tiger has made a passel of bad choices, so his undoing is his responsibility and his alone. He held his first press conference since the scandal broke. In it, he does take full responsibility for his actions, albeit in a rather dull and studied way. However, he owns up to everything, and for that, I have to give him some credit. Tiger is an extreme public example of Mojo-lessness of mythic proportions. He has a lot of work to do to get his Mojo back. I predict he will eventually, though it may take a few years.
But let’s get back to us. In our daily lives, we may feel like we’ve lost our Mojo — or you may think you have never tapped into it in the first place. Now is the time to find it. Having our Mojo means that we’re in the flow of life. Mojo does not exist outside of us and it’s much easier to obtain than you might think.
Here is my Mojo Recipe: Begin by thinking about Hope. Hoping is the best way to get your Mojo flowing. It’s really so simple. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, then take two more, and begin think about what it is that you Hope for….
A great relationship?
A great career?
Better or perfect health?
A better life?
A better world?
Allow yourself to feel the Hope for these things.
Don’t worry, you won’t jinx it. It’s not possible.
Just Hope and have fun with it. Once you feel the Hope flow around what it is that you want, you mood will improve. As will your perspective. Life will seem rosier, because it is (so much of life is how you look at it). And then, you know what? You will start to have your Mojo back — or you will have it for the first time. Which ever, it doesn’t matter. As long as you have it. Mojo is not given to some people and not others, like a genetic trait. It’s a basic recipe. We all can make it any time we want.
Please let me know how your Mojo is flowing.