Our Deepest Fear

Like most great things, the following truth is nothing new. In fact, it's not even mine, nor is it from the author that I heard it from. Ideas can spread so organically, and here is my attempt at helping this one grow!

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. 

-Marianne Williamson as quoted by Pressfield, Steven (2011). Do the Work (p. 38). The Domino Project. Kindle Edition.

BTW - The Kindle version of this book is available FOR FREE through May 19th, 2011 thanks to a generous donation from GE to The Domino Project (i.e. - Seth Godin's publishing company).

There is some language in the book though.