My amazing wife and I watched a movie on Netflix this past week about a basketball team who came from humble beginnings. Coach Carter; a wonderful film of triumph of the human spirit. Several times throughout the film the coach would ask one of the players, what are you most afraid of?Each time a student was asked they would reply with various things that they were afraid of on this journey of life.
Recently I wrote an article about playing small. I referenced the line, our playing small does not serve the world and today I would like to share with you where that phrase came from and share it in more detail.
The quote had been stamped as being a part of one of Nelson Mandela’s speeches after he became the first black president of south Africa ending the tyranny of the apartheid. The truth is the quote comes from a best-selling self-help book written by Marianne Williamson in 1989, “A Return to Love.” Williamson uses the quote in her book and it somehow, thanks to the internet, became attributed to Nelson Mandela.
Here is the quote Williamson wrote in its entirety:
Our deepest fear is not that we are weak. 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 ... As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
We spend our lifetime doing our utmost best to not be too big, not say too much, make waves or be too loud; in some cases, even being seen is too much for some, so we shrink into the shadows and hide our gifts by making ourselves small.
I have been writing articles and doing Life Coaching for a few decades now and one common thread or belief I repeatedly hear from clients is the “I feel like I am not good enough” theme. I do not think I am above anyone or better than; I do believe with every fiber of my being however, that we are all equal beings and each of us has something to give the world that will make it a more enjoyable ride fore all of us on the planet.
I began this adventure by writing about working through my own fears of being seen. Writing about my own journey of living in small town Saskatchewan among hard working manly men and strong women who I believed would judge me and even attack me for being different.
My own fears
I had made up a story that I might be rejected, attacked, ridiculed, or shamed for simply being my authentic self. As I worked through my own fears, I began to realize that 99% of those fears were inside not outside of me.
This week ponder the story you often tell yourself that keeps you small. I believe that the common, purpose of every human on the planet is to give the gift of who we are to the world.
As the late Dr Wayne Dyer said, don’t die with your music still in you!
What is the song you came to sing? What is the gift you came here to give? By shrinking from being seen, I have learned, that I have not been serving the world well and supporting the liberation of others as well as myself.
By giving the gift of who I am to the world, I have witnessed so many people liberating themselves and becoming free.
Simply by being you and being seen, you are improving your own life and also the lives of others for generations to come, so, thank you for reading Your Weekly Reset and thank you for being exactly who you are! Be you; be seen.
Namasté
Char
Well I'd have thought a provoking message like this would be stacked with comments. Well I for one enjoyed reading this and hope it makes my life a little better . Yhank you.
Rachel. x
Awe Thaaankyou Rachel, the more I allow myself to be free and seen, the more I become aware of the many horror stories I had made up in my head of the terrifying possible outcomes that to date, have never happened. In fact, since exposing my authenticity, only a couple of times people voiced a negative opinion.
Instead, I am discovering that although there may be a few minds that are not big enough to accept us, I have found that the majority of people just smile and say, good for you!! Most don't even give me a second glance these days haha
I walk through the isles of the grocery store smiling because everyone smiles and says nice things to me; it's pretty amazing Rachel.
Thanks so much for your comments dear, I am grateful.
See you on our next Live Sessions?
Namaste Rachel n big huggles Hon
Char
Char,
You know I love all your words. So inspiring. And I think you are right on here. I feel like I've lived my life, up to now, afraid "to be found out". I always looked like I knew what I was doing as a chef, but I was winging it the whole time. Faking it, perhaps. As I write that, perhaps that's what I was doing in my life as a man and husband too. Faking it. Not really into it. Just doing what I was "supposed" to do; never really happy as a chef or a man. Always wondering "what do I want to be when I grow up?" JaiymeLynne does wonder that too. Can she really be "one of the girls". What will she be, when she fully comes out? What is her purpose, other than to LIVE in each moment. Be Present in each moment. I do see options ahead, but I think as Ms Williamson states, "It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us." I believe I know where my light is, but am fearful of letting it shine.
But with the help of you and others here and my therapist, I will get through it. I must. I don't want to live my life as an emotional wreck, who isolates herself from others out of fear. I won't.
Thank you again for all you do and the words you write,
JaiymeLynne
what i was most afraid of it did happen i was outed at work now that it all out the is nothing to be afraid of
Sounds like me, still learning the site. how are you today hun X?