Finding Inspiration

In his book "Be Inspired Before You Expire", motivational speaker Pepe Minambo says blessed are those who are inspired, for they shall make the world a better place. He opines that expired people are as harmful as expired products. We should therefore be wary of expired minds because they can contaminate our dreams with the virus of discouragement and self-doubt.

I couldn't agree with Pepe Minambo more on the need for us to be inspired if we are to achieve our dreams. Inspiration is the oxygen of success. But one thing I have discovered about inspiration is that it comes and goes. If we rely on it, we will never get anything meaningful done. And if we laze around waiting for inspiration to come, we will find boredom instead.

Personally, I have suffered from lack of inspiration more times than I care to remember. When I was re-applying to three top American colleges in 2009 for instance, I would doze while revising for the SAT exam. Since the colleges stated in their alluring brochures that they only admit highly motivated students, is it any wonder that they all rejected me?

Then in 2010, I would sometimes run away from home to escape the boring menial tasks Mum assigned to me. I would lie to Mum that I was going to Nairobi to teach piano. But I would just idle in a certain room in downtown Nairobi, boringly waiting for 7.00pm to reach and head back home. On my way back, I would count my steps while wondering when I would reach home to eat and slumber.

And then in 2011 after I dropped out of the University of Nairobi due to financial constraints, I requested my family to let me stay in Nairobi. I intended to spend my days at the Kenya National Library to expand my intellectual bandwidth. After my family acceded to my request, I happily moved to a hostel in Nairobi.

But alas! Instead of enjoying my time in Nairobi, I found myself over-sleeping at the hostel. And when I turned up at the Kenya National Library to study, I would often nod off on the table. I just wasn't that inspired.

One evening in 2011 during that time I was staying in Nairobi, my eldest brother Joe Kagigite asked me what I was doing with myself. Though I can't recall the response I gave him, I remember feeling embarrassed that all I was doing in Nairobi was sleep and wander around.

Yes, I have had numerous episodes in my life when I have felt uninspired. During some of those episodes, I have wished inspiration was some sort of a gas I could inhale to get myself happy and motivated. Maybe it is that same desire to feel happy and motivated that drives some people to alcoholism and drug abuse.

With time, I have come to find inspiration by pursuing my hobbies: reading, meditating, writing, listening to music, playing the piano, singing, composing hymns, jogging, walking and socializing. Pursuing those hobbies has transformed me from a plump and unmotivated dude to a lean and charming young man.

God has somehow seen to it that I have the resources to pursue my hobbies. He has provided me with the reading materials, electronic gadgets and social connections I have needed to utilize my hobbies. Sometimes, He has even availed to me things I never thought I needed till I got them.

As I pointed out in my previous story on this blog, I have here at home plenty of books, magazines and newspapers to occupy my time. I am glad that I now have the inspiration to read them. These days, I sometimes get so engrossed in a book or a magazine that I don't even notice time passing by.

And in the evening, I revel in taking a one-hour walk to my hometown of Kiserian. Believe me when I tell you that I become so stimulated by the thoughts flowing in my mind during the walks that I don't even realize an hour has passed after I arrive back home from Kiserian. Those evening walks are usually the happiest times of my day.

My beloved reader, I challenge you to also find inspiration if you are regularly feeling down in the dumps. Don't make the mistake of waiting for inspiration to find you. Inspiration, as someone observed, comes to those who are active and resourceful. A good starting point is to identify your hobbies and engage in them regularly. Ciao!

***********************
RECOMMENDATION: If you've enjoyed the above story on finding inspiration, you might also enjoy another one on "How to Get Your Mojo Back" which I wrote four years ago. Just click on that link in blue to dive straight into the story.