The quote that I received

I feel like the quote that I received from Mr. and Mrs. Dr. Williams was very fitting, and it almost made me cry. The quote is from Nelson Mandela’s 1994 Inaugural Speech and says,

“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 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.  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 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.”

My own self doubt is something that I struggle with.  I do think that I am meant to achieve greatness, but I haven’t been able to let my light shine.  Or, I haven’t realized how to let it shine.  Everyday I am closer to making that realization, and I am becoming more and more willing and able to let my light shine.  It really is a journey to let go of the fear and the self doubt and just let myself be free.