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, 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 that is within us.
It is not just in some of us; 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 own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.
a return to love - marianne williamson
2006-08-18 07:57:15 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
Society teaches us that we should be humble, quiet things always putting others first. We are encouraged to be untrue to ourselves and to hide our strengths behind others' expectations of fitting in. When we break free of these bonds and strictures, we find ourselves and who we truly are. There are people out there who know themselves and are true to that knowledge so much that others are intimidated by them, fear them, hate them -at times idolize and love them. They are different and let them be themselves to the fullest. People hide themselves in molds of normalcy, afraid to take risks, afraid of failure and choose to exist in a comfort zone instead of trying to expand beyond what they know and become something larger than what they are told they should be. Failure is a big part of success. It is what teaches and molds us.
We should not be afraid to use these talents or to have others look at us askance. When you are truly yourself and stop hiding behind a mask, then you have found something in yourself that no one can take away. It is an inspiring thing. A few seconds contact with such a person can start the wheels rolling for someone else and inspire them to expand their boundaries and break free of their chrysalis.
2006-08-18 09:44:34 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
She answers the fear of power with a reason to embrace it: you have the gifts God gave you and His glory is within you. Show others how to be free.
2006-08-18 20:42:16 · answer #2 · answered by swarr2001 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it means not a fear of success, but of failure. It highlights basic human insecurities in the beginning then reminds us that we are all worth loving, worthy of our successes and worthy of just being.
2006-08-18 15:08:09 · answer #3 · answered by Jenn V 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe that anything written will not actually mean just one thing. It will mean a variety of things to different people as each of us read the same words with different beliefs, different biases, different upbringing, different views etc etc... So to ask what this quote means could perhaps ask what does this quote mean to you? :)
2006-08-18 17:09:42 · answer #4 · answered by heavenly 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe it refers to ones fear of success.
2006-08-18 15:03:06 · answer #5 · answered by kitty.hicks 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't be afraid to live up to your potential. Be confident in yourself and you can inspire others to do the same.
2006-08-18 19:20:54 · answer #6 · answered by tkron31 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋