"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 subconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
From A RETURN TO LOVE, by Marianne Williamson.
Tag: Spirituality, Inspiration // My special thanks to Isaiah for introducing me to this beautiful quote.
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ReplyDeleteah, a co-worker of mine who passed away last fall (almost a year ago now) had this quote posted on his monitor. Thank you for the reminder of him.
ReplyDeleteI've seen this quote before and each time I see it, I'm stricken by it. It is so true and powerful. I believe it. I really do. I just wish I would remember, consciously, and without ceasing.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Sadiq-
ReplyDeleteNamaste. It is beautiful, yes?
Beloved All,
ReplyDeleteYes it is striking. My prayers for the co-worker of Aisha. May he rest in peace. Thanks Goddess for sharing and also Isaiah, yes it is unbelievably beautiful and at the same time powerful.
A beautiful contradiction in this scenario lies in 'celebrities' who try to remind us that we are significant by accessing our tendency to glorify people who are more prominent then ourselves which is one of the avenues via which we vicariously compensate for our general insignificance in society.
ReplyDeleteIntoxicants and stupefying drugs come in all forms. Most Celebrities, in my dictionary, are of the 'Class A' variety when applied to our ability to objectively counter reality.
The litmus test indicating the worth of one being celebrated is the degree to which they help us to overthrow their significance by using them as a stepping stone rather than an alter. Secondly, taking pleasure in being told that i'm significant is pointless if it does not lead us to the knowledge of how we as a totality can make ourselves significant in the face of socio-economic reality.
If not, these people are no better than drug-traffickers who fight against a system that creates drug-users whilst profitting from the deprivation we experience within such a society that leads us to the addiction that in turn leads us to them.
The devil isn't an idiot. By treating him as one, we become idiots ourselvs. He doesn't come in forms that instigate our hate. Rather, he does it by instigating love. Love, however, if it does not take into account the global socio-economic framework within which it is practiced, only serves to undo Love. In other words, Ignorance + Love = Hate. In this society, the Division of Labour translates into the Fragmentation of Knowledge and the nuclearisation and insulation of wisdom. Wisdom is thus, in its totality, defeated.
I don't think we'd think much of Jesus, Muhammad, Guru Nanak, the Buddha, Gandhi, Malcolm X and others, if they had made a healthy pile out of their sermonisings.
Whilst Marianne W reminds us of our significance, she does it by accessing that which makes many significant in this day and age - that which translates to a more than healthy bank balance for herself.
Thus, i find it most prudent to value Ideas but never individuals who spout them lest by the latter i accord them infallibility or promote it in the eyes of others.
Amen to all that inquisitor had said. At least this guy can think for himself!
ReplyDeleteI don't think highly of Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha, or Zensay. These people had taken people's ability to think for themselves!
Make an honest living. And all these delusions will end.