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
