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'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.
~Nelson Mandela
I really like this quote. A lot. I think it is amazing, and true to boot! :-D
Monday, October 01, 2007
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3 comments:
Very profound my daughter. i don't think i would have seen it quite that way. Fear is eating me. I wonder what in my life has caused me to believe i am not worthy of sucess?
And, of course, when it comes to motivational quotes, your father is going to chime in, too!
I love the quote and the thought it portrays. No doubt we have no business holding back or denying our talents. As Les Brown says, "What did you show up to bring?!?"
In essence, what we bring to the world is unique and our contribution can be made by no other. So, then, why not make it?
But, I must add, the quote is actually a mis-quote. Nelson Mandela neither spoke those words nor wrote them.
The actual author of the quotation is Marianne Williamson. To be precise, it is from her 1992 book, "Return to Love" (hardcover p. 165, paperback pp. 190-191): http://www.marianne.com/index.php
Just to be extra sure that Mandela never quoted it in another speech, others have writtento the ANC (info[at]anc.org.za) asking about it, and their representative Duncan Harford confirms the mis-quote:
"Subject: Re: Our Deepest Fear
Date: Tue, 20 Aug 2002
Hello...
We are aware that these words have for some years now been attributed to Nelson Mandela on the internet. We do not know how this happened
These words appear neither in the May 9, 1994 inaugural speech (http://www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/history/mandela/1994/inaugct.html), nor the May 10, 1994 inaugural speech(http://www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/history/mandela/1994/inaugpta.html), nor any of the other speeches, statements and writings by Mr. Mandela (http://www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/history/mandela/).
Regards,
Duncan"
So, there you have it. While it is a fantastic quote, it didn't come from Nelson Mandela. But, it does come from an amazing woman who wrote quote a good book, from what I've heard about it.
Very inspiring, motivational, and uplifting.
well....oops on me. that's just what my dance teacher said! lol. thanks for keeping me in check dad! :)
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