There comes a time in our lives when we have an urge to understand who we really are. I am at a point where I don’t have a definitive answer to that question, not because I feel lost but because I am learning. Recently, I stumbled upon an interesting quote by Matshona Dhliwayo, “If you know where you are from, it is harder for people to stop you where you are going.” This quote made so much sense to me because I was feeling disconnected from my roots. I am from Kisoro, and the Bafumbira are my people. For a long time, that was all I needed to know, but I was not bothered about what it meant on a deeper level. I am what I like to call a third-generation Mufumbira born and bred in Kampala. I would like to believe that I have all the characteristic features of my people, but I can barely connect. I do not fluently speak my native language, although I understand it thoroughly because growing up, my parents spoke to each other in Rufumbira and spoke to me and my siblings in English to prepare us for school. They didn’t want us to be those kids who could not understand the teacher at all. When they started trying to teach us Rufumbira, it was a major fail, so they switched and started to speak to us in Rufumbira, but we responded in English, and that’s how we communicate now.
This month, I packed my bags, including my “broken” Rufumbira, and went to Kisoro. It was so refreshing, and I don’t even know why, but I have never felt more at home than I did the few hours I was in Kisoro.
I took this trip for several reasons, and I will share some of them here. Firstly, I needed to get away from the noise, literally, the busy streets, noisy neighbors, cars hooting, trucks honking, and crazy traffic. I needed to think in a different environment. Secondly, I am preparing to become a member of parliament, but that is a discussion for another blog. Lastly, I needed answers. I have watched movies where people take a journey to their hometown to meet an old wise man or woman who speaks in parables and somewhat shows them the meaning of life or if they are on the right path. There is a part of me that wishes I knew such an old wise man or woman, but I don’t. My plan was to sit with nature and do nothing but think. To reflect means to think carefully and deeply about something, and we do not get enough time to do this. We have to make time to do it. I have been doing a lot of studying, and I learned from the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women program that as a business leader, I had to apply my very being to the business, but what did that really mean? I sat in front of my computer for ten minutes wondering what that really meant, but there were no answers. So I chose not to overthink it, knowing that it would only be a matter of time before it all made perfect sense.
From about age eight, when we almost begin to understand how life works, we start to hear so much noise. People’s views, opinions, and fears. We get all kinds of counsel and advice from grown-ups about who we should be and how we should behave. Incidentally, this all happens just before adolescence, also known as the uprising when we become rebellious and start asking questions because all the conflicting views have now gotten to our heads, our hormones are out of control, and we don’t even know it. For me, it was at about this age when I started to seek answers from God because God is all-knowing.
As I reflect on my spiritual journey, I can’t help but think of 1 John 4:12-14: “No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another, God loves us and his love is made complete in us. We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his son to be the savior of the world.”
This passage reminds me that if spirituality involves believing in a higher power, then we must seek guidance from that power within ourselves. We shouldn’t rely on priests, church leaders, or other people in our lives to dictate our spiritual growth. Instead, we should look inward and tap into the power of our own spirits.
A few months ago, I had an epiphany that I needed to understand various religious beliefs and expand my knowledge. This realization helped me to connect with my spirituality in a deeper way.
Reflection begins with information, and so gathering knowledge is crucial to the process. For me, reflecting on myself means understanding my strengths and weaknesses, identifying areas where I can improve, and striving to become more purposeful and empowered. It also involves connecting with my heritage and reaching for a higher self.
Ultimately, this journey of self-discovery is essential for anyone in a leadership position. Leadership begins with leading oneself, and by understanding our own spirituality and connection to a higher power, we can become better equipped to guide and inspire those around us.
hategapam 