Our Deepest Fear

Re posted from my family blog--October 2009. I feel like it is still very pertinent to this whole "becoming a writer" obsession that I have. :) Enjoy!

Last night I was able to enjoy a wonderful evening session of Stake Conference for the adults. Our ward choir provided the music, my children stayed home, I sat with my dear husband, and I was spiritually fed. I enjoyed each topic and speaker, but Sister Crowely's talk was my favorite. She speaks on my level, stories and life examples that I can relate to.

I was especially touched by a quote that she read by Marianne Williamson from her book A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracle (also used in the movie Akeelah and the Bee and incorrectly credited to *Nelson Mandela's Inauguration speech in 1994).

“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, fabulous?

"Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do.

"We were 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. by Marianne Williamson

How many times in our lives do we begin to hope for something, begin to believe that we can accomplish a goal or task that seemed unattainable, and then decide to be "realistic", convincing ourselves that we are too average to really do what we wish? We dream of making a difference in the world, or producing something that we can leave behind with our name on it, but fall prey to the whisperings of inadequacy. It is so easy to do, and we all do it in some form daily.

What if we could truly believe in the light that fills our souls as children of a loving Heavenly Father who wants us to accomplish great things? What if when someone asks you, "You are a writer?" (or photographer, singer, dancer, pianist, poet, runner, swimmer, whatever you dream of doing) you can say "Yes I am!" proudly without embarrassment or fear of them discovering that you are simply a want-to-be?

We need to let our lights shine brightly, and use that light to show others that it is alright for them to shine as well. If we are confident in ourselves, we will not feel the need to belittle or demean others in order to feel better about ourselves. We can be strong, intelligent, creative, talented and fabulous and allow others to do the same!

Now I'm off to be brilliant, and I can't wait to see all the lights starting to burn in my friends and family around me. Trust me, I have some amazing friends who really do shine!

*Link to Nelson Mandela's Inauguration Speech .