accessing "module scope" vars

I'm currently learning Python, and I have to work on a Python 2.7 project.

Accessing "module scope" variables in functions of the module itself is a bit confusing for me, and I didn't succeed in finding a satisfying way.

My attempts so far:

Way 1:

my_module.py

my_global_var = None

def my_func():
    global my_global_var
    my_global_var = 'something_else'

Here I think that confusing local and "module scope" vars may be quite easy.

Way 2:

my_module.py

import my_module

my_global_var = None

def my_func():
    my_module.my_global_var = 'something_else'

Here, the name of "my_module" could not be as easily changed as "way 1" when necessary. Plus, importing a module into itself sounds quite weird.

What would you recommend? Or would you suggest something else? Thanks.