Learning to love our selves by doing the ‘work’ on the inside, in order to save humanity from itself.
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.
Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of “A Course in Miracles”
Reminiscent of good ol’ London Town in winter, the rain lashes down on a surprisingly cold and grey day here in Sydney. The cosiness afforded by this weighted blanket of gloomy weather reminds me of the burdens of the world today. It also allows me to reflect upon my intentional silence in the face of this heaviness – both on my blog and on social media in general.
A simple question has remained in the back of my mind: What possibly could a voice like mine have to contribute to a world of seemingly constant chaos? Why add to the noise? There has been a certain film of almost-ready fearfulness in the face of saying or doing the ‘wrong’ thing.
LEARNING TO SHINE
In all the not-knowing of what to say or what to write, the above quote from Marianne Williamson spoke to me yet again today. It felt like time to share it, when there are so many voices that could do with being silenced, my guess is that there are those amongst us that are staying still, preparing their resources for the deep work that humanity so badly needs.
Has anyone else out there been sitting with silence and reflecting on what’s going on? Anyone else not know quite what to say? Looking inward for the answers, rather than outward? Anyone been listening, intently?
So for anyone out there doing the work, for anyone that is focused on building their resilience, increasing their physical, mental and energetic fortitude – this one is for you:
WHO ARE YOU NOT TO BE BRILLIANT, GORGEOUS, TALENTED, FABULOUS?
‘There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you’. Amen, Marianne. Amen.
May we truly, unequivocally, return to love – of each other, yes, but perhaps first, may we either return to, or find, love: For our own selves.
That way, everybody gets to shine.
And boy, wouldn’t it be nice if we all had a little more light in our lives.
With gratitude,
Nathan