A friend and I were talking about what it means to be vain. how as children of the 50’s/60’s there was this belief that to talk about yourself in a positive way was somehow wrong.
Phrases like “don’t toot your own horn” and “don’t grandstand” proliferated the emotional landscape casting a shadow on one’s ability to shine. To grow in confidence and strength and determination to use your talents to the best of your ability and the betterment of the world around you.
“What’s in it for you to keep playing small?” I asked my friend when she mentioned how she still struggles to believe in herself. After a childhood full of admonitions to hide her light, she wants to let it all out, but fear keeps getting in her way.
She laughed and said, “Lots of aches and pains.”
And that’s the thing, the person we hurt most when we hide our light and shelter ourselves from shining bright and fierce is ourselves.
We are born to shine.
We are born to play big. To step outside our comfort zones and grab center stage of our own lives.
We must if we are to create better.
Because, when we shine bright, we light up the world around us so others can see their way through the dark. The more of us shining bright and fierce, the greater the light in the world and the greater the possibility of real and meaningful change in how we move through the darkness.
So… ask yourself today, “Who benefits most when I stop playing small and shine my light as bright as can be?”
I hope your answer is bright enough for all the world to see there’s nothing to fear in lighting up the darkness and a world of better to be gained!
Namaste
beautiful and true
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Thank you Megan. Much gratitude. ❤
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“bright enough for all the world to see” ❤️ Beautiful!
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Thank you my friend. ❤ Hugs
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Hugs ❤️
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Which is why I read Marianne Williamson’s quote over and over and over again.
“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.”
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One of my all time favourites. Thanks for sharing it here Dale. ❤
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Mine too. And it says so much, doesn’t it?
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