When I first heard this statement, it was attributed to Nelson Mandela, a man who greatness inspires an almost spiritual affection in me. I later heard that the original author was Marianne Williamson. I still imagine Mr. Mandela saying them though.
Why I am posting them? Because I have two people in my life right now who make me think of them - the first is my son, obviously, but the second is another mother, a reader of this blog, and someone who I would love to call a friend in time. She inspires a lot of people in our community. You know who you are, even if you would never admit it publicly. Thank you for your quiet support, as an advocate, a mother, and a mentor.
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
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