One of my favorite personal empowerment quotes by Marianne Williamson (Course of Miracles, etc.) which is often attributed to Nelson Mandela and was in the movie “Akeelah and the Bee”:
“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, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God ( child of the Buddha). Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.
There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to make manifest the glory of God (our Buddha nature) 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.”
I loved it! Congrats on your new blog. I wish you much success liz!
Toddy English!
Comment by toddyenglish — September 26, 2008 @ 2:10 pm
Toddy glad you liked the piece. Appreciate the well wishes!
Comment by lizwrites — September 26, 2008 @ 2:35 pm
I cannot hear this enough — thank you for helping me hear it today. essa
“You are a child of God ( child of the Buddha). Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.
There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to make manifest the glory of God (our Buddha nature) 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.”
Comment by essaadams — January 10, 2009 @ 3:42 am
Maya Angelou mentions those first three lines often. Very powerful…
Comment by Mal Volio — January 11, 2009 @ 4:17 pm
Thanks, Essa…UR right, we can’t hear this enough. Think how we would all be if we were confident in believing WE ARE powerful beyond measure? This is deep! Looking forward to reading more of you work on FB/site.
Comment by lizwrites — January 12, 2009 @ 1:45 am
Hi Mal,
Thanks for your comments. Not surprised that someone who’s such an eloquent speaker as Dr. Angelou, mentions the Williamson quote. Looking forward to reading more on your FB blogs/sites.
Comment by lizwrites — January 12, 2009 @ 1:50 am
Very Nice Liz. I love that quote.
Kahil Gibran has another one that relates to the issue. I think it is from the Prophet…”Limp not before the lame considering it kindness” I’ve often found that one very powerful for me.
JM
Comment by Jeff Mease — June 29, 2009 @ 2:11 pm
Jeff Thanks for your comments. They’re truly appreciated.
Liz
Comment by lizwrites — June 29, 2009 @ 3:59 pm
Didn’t realize that part of this quote was also in the film Coach Carter until last week. Learn something new.
Comment by Liz Isaacs — November 15, 2009 @ 6:24 pm