Our Deepest Fear - Marianne Williamson
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, handsome, talented and 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 within us.
It is not just in some; it is 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 fear,our presence automatically liberates others.
Nelson Mandela who quoted this poem in his inaugural address on May 10,1994. It was made most popular when it was used in two recent movies Coach Carter [2005]
and Akeelah and the Bee [2006] .
I began a counted cross stitch with this poem for my first grandson soon after he was born [hopefully I will finish it before his fourth birthday-which is soon! yikes!! or at least before he can actually read it! :-o ]
This widely acclaimed poem is actually not a poem at all, but an excerpt from A Return To Love, a book by motivational speaker and author Marianne Williamson. The passage has such inspirational power that it is now a stand-alone mantra for a generation of exceptional individuals who wish to motivate themselves and others to live up to their fullest potential.The words "deepest" is often replaced with "greatest" in reprints of the passage, although the original uses "deepest", as seen below. "Our Deepest Fear", as it is best known, is a cultural phenomenon as it is quickly becoming one of today's most well known sagacious quotes from an author who is still living. (accessed October 15, 2009 http://www.squidoo.com/our_deepest_fear)
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