[ Mariane Williamson ]
[ Free and Easy ][ Chris Lundy ]
This little speech is widely attributed to Nelson Mandela in his inauguration speech as President of South Africa, after 28 years in jail. Apparently it was actualy written by an author named Marriane Williamson, but I still like to imagine Nelson saying it.
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 is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is 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 fears, our presence automatically liberates others.