I'm feeling a little fearful this morning....pretty downright doubtful of my worth...wearing my heart on my shirt sleeve...wondering about friendship....how to please...how not to be myself so those around me will feel satisfied. Withdrawing into the shell, avoiding the hurt.
But this excerpt about our deepest fear from A Return to Love
by Marianne Williamson continues to repeat itself in my head as my reminder that I will not play small nor shrink. I will continue to grow and ask questions and stretch myself to be more, not less than I am. I will liberate myself from the fear I'm feeling today.
"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 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 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."
But this excerpt about our deepest fear from A Return to Love
by Marianne Williamson continues to repeat itself in my head as my reminder that I will not play small nor shrink. I will continue to grow and ask questions and stretch myself to be more, not less than I am. I will liberate myself from the fear I'm feeling today.
"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 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 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."
One Seed
Hugs to you this morning, my friend! That is a mighty powerful quote.
ReplyDeletePlease don't yield to the temptation to be anything other than "yourself". Your true friends will love you for being genuine, and the others, well, they are just the "others".
I try to work to change things about myself that I am not happy with, and I evaluate what others may think about me to discover if there are things there that need changing (attitudes, more kindness or consideration of others, more patience, more fruit of the Spirit)but yet I must remain true to ME (and my Lord), and just be who and what He made me to be.
We are NOT all created with the same gifts, callings, and purposes, but yet sometimes others judge OUR lives by what they are called to do.
You have a bright light in your life... let it shine from the rooftops! Sermon over now, you may go back to your sewing, gardening, or whatever your day holds. Love you for being YOU, my friend!
You are just the sunshine I need today. Realizing that there are things about myself that need 'fine-tuning', I will continue to try to overcome the fear of what others may be saying or thinking (or not). Today I hope to sew, garden, love and pray.
ReplyDelete"how not to be myself so those around me will feel satisfied"
ReplyDeleteWow, what a line!! Too often -- too true.
Thanks for sharing Marianne Williamson's words (and yours, too)