How do I write when I'm not inspired?

Ever since I was in high school, I have taken pride in being able to write (in my own, biased opinion) some pieces of better than the average literature. Aside from that, I was able to produce my best works at the fastest times. There is a hitch, however. I was only capable of writing well whenever I was inspired. When I had no other reason to write besides I had to, my work was as good as ready for the trash bin.

This is the challenge that I want to overcome. To write well inspite of the lack of inspiration. To make good use of paper and ink (though in my case now, it's keyboard and screen) even if I sometimes can't find it in my heart to continue.

For writing is in many ways the same as living. We commit our best and most memorable acts whenever we have compelling reasons to do so. We transcend our usual capabilities whenever we are inspired beyond the ordinary.

But there are times when we just can't motivate ourselves enough. There are instances in which we continue to do our tasks just because we have to. But then again, this does not mean that we have to lose our desire to live.

I learned that we should not wait for inspiration before we go to work. We have to work first, and continue to press ourselves even when we are not motivated. Before we know it, inspiration will come to us.

I wish..

.. that I have a vocabulary rich enough that I can easily find the right words to depict what I think and feel at the moment.
.. that I can be as good a writer as I was before (or even better), so I can easily convey what I want to say to anyone.
.. that life would be as simple as it had been when my biggest problem was if I got perfect scores in my exams.
.. that I understand every part of God's plan for me.
.. that by wiping away the tears in my mother's eyes, her pain subsides as well.
.. that I can give a better life to my parents just like that.
.. that friends remain so in spite of the distance and the lack of time.
.. that everyone realizes his/her purpose of living before it's too late.
.. that we can always see the glass half full rather than half empty.

But I understand enough of life to just wish for these things to happen.

- I can work on being a better writer, with practice, I know I will be.

- To try to make life as simple as it was when I was a child, when complexity comes with the passing of years, is a sign of immaturity and unpreparedness for life as it should be.

- God's wisdom is not revealed to us until we need to realize it. That is why we have to have faith, so we can believe in things that are sometimes beyond our comprehension.

- We have to work hardest for the things that we want the most. So we will never take them for granted when we already have them.

- We need someone else to help us learn the most important lessons in life. That is why I write, to help others learn these things, for I also had other people help me learn these.

Expecto Patronum

Right now, I'm only producing silvery vapour, just enough to keep the dementors at bay but unable to get rid of them. I need to think of happy thoughts, I have to look back to those moments when it seemed to me that life here on earth is almost as good as life would be in heaven.

Hope combats despair, faith struggles against helplessness. Whichever is stronger will win in the end. But if hope and faith come up short, I know I will still triumph. Love will see me through this.

It's not going to be easy. To continue to seek the light amidst the darkness, to work for a better future in the face of all hopelessness, to strive for a happier life in spite of all sadness. But I know that in due time, my corporeal Patronus will charge towards the dementors and send them away.

I cannot give up. Not now. Not ever.

"You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs"

I am not a fan of this statement, written by Ayn Rand in her profoundly philosophical book, "The Fountainhead". However, I cannot deny the fact that there are times when this quote seems to fully depict what's happening in our lives.

We have to be broken before we can become whole again. Things have to get worse before they can get better. We have to see through the darkest of nights so we can glimpse the most beautiful sunrise. We have to admit our weaknesses, and only by then can we realize our true strengths.

Stones have to be chiseled as a masterpiece is sculpted. Canvasses dirtied with paint and pieces of crumpled paper surround an artist's and a writer's best works.

And so it is with our lives.

This is not the easiest way to bec0me a better person. But as long as this helps me become who I aspire to be, I have no reason to complain.