My mojo has left me.
I’m not sure what I did to offend it. I’m searching for answers.
(Photos.com)
I wonder if this is why…
Last week, I took a little time off. My BFF came all the way from California to visit. We hadn’t seen one another since January, and I was guilty of being just a wee bit excited. Much more than a wee bit, if you really want to know.
The day before Ellen arrived, I sat down at my desk. I put an “out of office” message on my inbox. I made notes of things I had to do for the following week. I got up-to-date on my assignments and other work.
“Mojo,” I said. “Here’s the deal. Tomorrow, I need to pay attention to my friend. And since you know me so well, I know you’ll understand that I can only do one thing well at a time. It’s not that you’re second-best; it’s just that it’s been months since I’ve last seen Ellen, and you and I…well, let’s just say we’ve been hanging out together a bit too much and we both need a well-deserved break.”
I’d put Mojo aside before, but had never been so straight-forward about it. Usually when Mojo disappeared, it happened somewhat organically, like when the weather was gray and gloomy, when I was navigating the raging and unpredictable hormonal shifts of menopause or when my attention was taken away by something more pressing, like the death of my father. And then, like the sunshine after a brief shower, Mojo would reappear, happy to be back and warming me with its attention and dedication. We’d have a huge reunion, filled with creativity and joy.
Mojo crept off silently, without even a goodbye. It would have been nice to have had the chance to at least tell Mojo that I looked forward to our reunion the minute Ellen left. But when someone slinks off without you noticing, it’s tough to get any words, much less any thoughts, across.
I rarely thought of Mojo during my friend’s visit. Being with a good friend trumps having your Mojo sometimes, I must admit. We shopped, we ate, we drank together. We sweated in the gym by day then at night, feeling virtuous, stuffed our bellies with frozen yogurt (even though we were full from dinner). We woke up each morning eager to do it all again.
Oh, the power of friendship. It can feed your soul like just about nothing else.
Except for Mojo. Mojo feeds my soul, too. Mojo is a pretty good companion, especially on the days when I want to be creative and write.
But right now, Mojo is missing and I don’t know where to look. It’s not the longest I’ve been without it – there was that one time when I was about to trade in the word “Mojo” for “Writer’s Block.” I’m glad I didn’t, because Mojo certainly would have taken offense and stayed away for a really long time, as Mojo has always been fond of the term “self-fulfilling prophecy.”
Oh, Mojo, where for art thou?
Declare thyself!
Where do you look when your Mojo goes missing?
Julie Phelps says
Hah! When my Mojo goes missing I read blog posts, beginning with all those on GenFab! … like THIS one. Always a good find will pop up and get me and Mojo in harmony again.
SherylK says
Thanks, Julie. I think I need to get busy reading. You’re right; good writing always inspires good writing.
Janie Emaus says
I go for a long walk. Or swim. Or take a shower.
Don’t worry. She’ll come back.
SherylK says
I hope you’re right, Janie. I’m sure you are…it’s always this way. You feel like it’ll never return and then one day – zap! – it’s back. She’s been sticking a toe in…slowly…still hovering. Maybe her vacation is too much fun and she’s not ready to come back just yet.
SherylK says
I’ve tried all those things and so far…nada. I think I will just have to sit by patiently and wait for her to step back into my life, Janie.
Karen @BakingInATornado says
Popped over from the GenFab FB page (where I’m a newbie) because I’ve been talking with many blogger friends about this epidemic. We all think that because it’s summer and many readers are off with their families, our mojo have collectively decided that vacation is the place to be.
10 months ago a friend lost her mojo. I started the Secret Subject Swap to get her writing again. People send me any prompt. I send them out to people on a given day and two weeks later we all post about the prompt we received and link up. It’s a fun way to jump start those creative juices (and step outside the box a little). The swap is still going strong and I love the challenge.
SherylK says
That sounds like a fun way to not only get your Mojo back, but to collaborate with others and be creative!
Irene S. Levine says
Lovely post~
I think everyone and everything has a rhythm. Your mojo will return when it wants to~
SherylK says
Thanks, Irene. The rhythm is off right now, but will get back into sync one day…soon, I hope!
Brette says
I’m resigned to the fact that mine goes on vacation without letting me know. It always comes back, so mostly I wait around for it to reappear and try to find other ways to stay busy in the mean time.
SherylK says
I think you are right, Brette. All I know is that I will be happy when Mojo decides to return from vacation.
Nancy Monson says
I find sometimes I have lots of ideas and sometimes I don’t. Either way, I have to keep writing to make money!
Laura E. Kelly says
My husband innovation writer Warren Berger has written a whole free ebook on this kind of stuff (STOP • THINK • CREATE http://amorebeautifulquestion.com/about/stop-think-create/), so when I saw your post I asked him if he had any thoughts. Boy, did he! Someday we’ll turn it into a post for his blog, but for now here’s some tips for you in his words (this might be the longest comment you’ve ever gotten!):
• The key 10-minute break
There are times when it’s a legitimate “bad day.” The creativity just isn’t there. But there are other times when it’s just slow starting. You got to give it a couple of hours before you give up. During those couple of hours you should make several fresh starts–stepping away briefly from your computer. That means walking around the block, or going to your backyard. Just briefly, no more than 10 minutes. The break is just to break the flow. Do NOT kill the time by browsing online, because the idea of the break is to step away from the computer. Make sure to go back after the break–the day isn’t lost yet.
If after multiple tries over a period of a couple hours the mojo doesn’t return, it may be that you’re having a bad day. Try again first thing in the morning the next day. In the meantime you could read a book for inspiration or do research on your subject.
• Morning ideas are often the best
Mornings are really important. Make sure you’re ready to jot stuff down first thing in the morning–that’s when interesting ideas are fresh. And set up a notepad right by your bed. You’re not writing yet, but capturing ideas. It’s 60/40 that those morning ideas usually turn out to be pretty good. (That’s science–your brain is making more connections at night.)
Other tricks:
• An outline can help recover your writing mojo
Even if you’re just writing a blog post or essay, if you’re having trouble writing, write an outline figuring out the beginning, middle and end, figuring out what you want to say and where you want to say it. But you are not writing yet (this helps fool your brain). Do it on a notepad–not the computer. Jot down the ideas, what you want to mention. Use arrows and circles to order them. You’re trying to get something down on paper you will refer back to later.
If a great sentence occurs to you, jot it down. But keep outlining, until you take a break and feel that the mojo has really come back.
• Important thing about starting
The hardest thing to do is write the first sentence of a piece. Unless it comes to you right off the bat, don’t spend any time on that. Start somewhere else. There’s a good chance you’ll change your beginning anyway, so don’t spend a lot of time on it.
I often start in the middle, and then I’m off and running.
Good luck,
Warren
http://amorebeautifulquestion.com/
SherylK says
Laura, I can’t thank you (and Warren) enough! Thanks so much for all this valuable information. I’m going to read, re-read and re-read again. And keep it very handy, because you never know…
Jennifer says
My mojo is on vacation too! I’m trying to read more, listen more and engage more. So far, nada.
SherylK says
Maybe it’s Mojo Month? When they all gather together to recharge? After all, even they need a break sometimes.
Rob K says
eh, nothing so complicated to wonder about. Quit rackin’ your brain…It’s summertime. Nothing conjures up a more delightful image than the words “summer day.” July is national vacation month..no one wants to do anything of substance…we just want to go to our ‘beach’, eat ice cream, play golf, or whatever turns you on. I’m no writer, but you can’t force it…ENJOY the time away from task. ; )
SherylK says
Oh, if only…
Although I do like your attitude. Unfortunately, when you rely on your mojo for your creative inspiration, you start missing it when it’s away. I’ll try to take your advice and enjoy – thanks, Rob.
Kathy @ SMART Living 365.com says
Hi Sheryl…sorry you’re feeling distressed about the absence of your mojo 🙂 I tend to think of life as cycles so to me things ebb and flow a lot in my life and the challenge is not to set myself up with what “I” think should or should not be happening. Ever read the work of Byron Katie?? She really puts things into perspective for me. Plus, I learned from my very active fur-baby Kloe that when I run towards her…she thinks it’s a game and runs away from me. When I run away from her–then she runs towards me. Either way, to her it is a delightful game! ~Kathy
SherylK says
I love your analogy about your dog (I had a dog named CHloe, spelled differently. Nice spelling!) Kathy. Very SMART. I think perhaps I need to turn my back on Mojo and it will come running back to me. Let it take a lesson from your Kloe. And thanks for the Byron Katie reco.
Lou xoxo says
I, for one, would not worry at all about losing your Mojo as much as I would celebrate the wonderful time you had with your BFF. That time is PRICELESS and so well spent that instead of stunting it, it should recharge your Mojo, kickstart your thoughts and creativity and catapult you into the next project. You go girl…Plus, the support, love and friendship you received from your wonderful friend, Ellen, was well worth the price of a temporarily lost Mojo… don’t you think?
xoxo
SherylK says
Oh, yes, Lou. There is NO substitute for the love and friendship of a BFF. No doubt about that. Mojo? Who is that??
Lynne Miller says
I think it’s normal to have uninspired moments. It’s impossible for anyone to keep mojo in her life 24/7. It’s not realistic. When I’m having a bad day, I just acknowledge it’s one bad day, not a bad week, or a bad month, or a crummy year, and let it pass. Talking to my sister or a good friend can be helpful. Even spending a little extra time on Facebook helps. Sometimes I find it useful to get away from the computer and do something unrelated to my professional work. It’s also good not to check email too frequently.
SherylK says
Acknowledging it’s only one bad day and not a bad week or month is a healthy way to look at things, Lynne. Thanks for sharing your strategies!