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.
i'm not sure how i feel about this quote, i've been mulling it over ever since the first two sentences appeared in the trailer for the next National Youth Conference.
in a sense, i know what she's saying, but we are inadequate.
it's only through God's grace that we can stand in front of Him every day and live this life that's been given to us. and we are only adequate in Him.
on the one hand, we are exactly where we need to be, with exactly the skills and mindset in our possession to do what He wants us to do. and this is an empowering truth.
but conversely, knowing and focusing on our own inadequacy is an unhealthy practice, as we begin to focus on the things we lack, and begin to wonder why that is.
who are we to determine what's good for us?
i'm still halfway with this.
3 comments:
First saw the quote when it appeared in a scene in Coach Carter the movie.
But if not, the lady speaker sounds rather dodgy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marianne_Williamson
Cheers.
Religion aside, I read this quote as one of inspiration.
A quote which reminds me that I should always be the best I can be and not be ashamed of it.
I have heard that quote in many forms and in many ways and i am a firm believer in its truth and in its reverence for all life. To believe we are inadequate is to make the gift of life and choice we have been given redundant. It is to say who am i to prosper more than others? Who am i to achieve and live freely? It is to believe not only that you yourself are inadequate but that all are, and thus we are all inherently flawed.
Believing we are inherently inadequate and constructed only in our devotion to god, living only by his grace, is to welcome death into our hearts. It is not believing in living and the choice and chance to succeed or fail. It is not believing in the sanctity of life.
In this way it is like saying we have no right to live our lives freely and respecting others lives. But is life not a gift given and not shackles to be worn with a heavy heart? Is it not to us to suffer the consequences good and bad, of our own actions and to determine our own path?
Our lives are our own, and in believing in our own abilities, believing in that piece of god inside each and every one of us, we strive for growth and prosperity. We strive towards being a better person each and every day. We won't always choose what is best for us, but that responsibility, to discover what is right and true for oneself and to stay true to life and the world around us, falls to the us.
(PS its not an attack on you or anything its just what i believe, i am a fairly melodramatic individual as you know haha. Also i'm heartily procrastinating and missing our talks a bit right now...)
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