There is a very beautiful quote I refer to when I am struggling; it’s by Marianne Williamson and she says:
“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.”
This has been a light for me to remember when I am stepping in, shining in a different way, going against the norm, not following the crowds. And I know I am not the only one.
When we turn away and go against what the “normal” expectations are, we step out of the safety box, and we no longer play it safe. We instead put ourselves into the light. We stand out and while we try to shine a light for others, it can be terrifying. We often want to go back into the safe place, where we don’t bring attention to ourselves, where we can hide out and sit in the shadows. Where we play it safe.
But, playing small, hiding away—that helps no one. Not one person. And it definitely doesn’t help you. In fact, that diminishes your light. It pushes your spirit down and ultimately, it affects our own worth and wellbeing.
We came to this Earth to learn, to grow, to experience this crazy train we are on. We came with God-given gifts that are meant to be shared and cast about. The gifts are gifts from God. They help others, ourselves, future generations. Yet, the majority of us have been taught to hide out, to play small and be quiet.
And that is the struggle—to either play it safe or instead, go against what we have learned and walk out with our head up, shoulders back, and chest out. Walk against the safety of the safe place and step out. Step into the light and shine. But in that, we become vulnerable to what others think and that right there is what this quote is all about.
Cast those thoughts in the garbage. No one ever made ripples by playing it safe. Ripples are made by placing yourself in uncomfortable situations and focusing on who you are helping as opposed to who is talking about you. Ahhhhhhhhh….!
Do we diminish ourselves for the few who have not yet learned what we have learned—to shine? Or, do we focus on the changers, the growers, the ones who we want to inspire and learn from?
I know who I am focusing on. Do you?
~Tammy xo