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A MO is “mode of operating,” a way of being in the world and relating to part of it, or all of it. A MO is a verb that modifies another verb, so it is always followed by another verb. “I have to work.” “I can become successful.”
Since a verb always describes an activity or process, a MO is a verb that modifies how an activity is done. A MO functions in the same way that an adverb does, and perhaps should be called an adverb. An adverb sometimes precedes the verb that is modified, and sometimes follows it, while a MO always precedes it, and this is part of the power of a MO. A MO sets a general orientation or global direction before we know what the activity is. Often a person says simply, “I can't,” or “I want to,” since the content is specified by the context. However, since the words themselves do not specify a content or context, it is very easy to generalize the statement to a wide range of content/contexts.
A MO modulates our experience of much (or all) of what we do in very important ways. Think of any simple neutral activity, and describe it in a brief phrase, such as “looking out the window.” Next say the following sentences to yourself, and become aware of your experience of each of them, noticing how your experience changes with each sentence, particularly where your attention goes, and how you feel:
“I want to look out the window.”
“I have to look out the window.”
“I can look out the window.”
“I choose to look out the window.”
The “mode of operating” in the first is to be pulled toward the activity, with a sense of pleasure and anticipation. The “mode of operating” in the second is to be pushed toward it, usually from behind, and usually also with some sense of not wanting to do it. (Thanks to John McWhirter for pointing out this push/pull parameter of motivation.)
The last two are somewhat different; “Can” simply directs your attention to alternate avenues of possibility. In addition to “looking out the window,” other possible directions get my attention. “Choose” presupposes these alternatives, focusing more on the internal experience of selecting between the alternatives.
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