Shine...

“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.”

~Nelson Mandela

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I have thought about this quote a lot in the last couple of weeks and wanted to share it. Too often I feel inadequate and afraid of letting my light shine in fear that I may fail..and fail miserably...in front of what feels like the whole world. I want to shrink. I often tell Alex... surely you must get sick of me, because I'm pretty sick of myself. I do enjoy watching others. I see those that are kind... especially when they've been treated unkindly... those that are forgiving... especially when things really aren't fair... those that don't complain...especially when they have good reason too...and those that SHINE... especially on a dark, cloudy day...

Thanks to those who aren't afraid to SHINE... as a Child of God does... it makes me want to do the same!!