Our Deepest Fear...
By Zo0mZo0m
@Zo0mZo0m (1357)
United States
March 17, 2007 8:59pm CST
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 most.
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.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you.
We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is whithin us.
It is not in just some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our prsence automatically liberates others.
Nelson Mandela
Inaugural Speech, 1994
1 person likes this
5 responses
@kurtbiewald (2625)
• United States
18 Mar 07
Deepest respect for Mr. Mandela, he is saintly I think
It doesn't apply to my life though.
I have always felt adequate, I was a smart likable kid. People always told me I was adequate. That brilliant talented, amazing stuff doesn't apply to me much. I lost my mind. I'm just sort of average now in many ways.
I'm not afraid. I feel liberated.
@divinister (309)
• Philippines
15 May 07
Very nice words indeed authored by Marianne Williamson. Very inspiring!!
That same speech was used in the movie "Coach Carter". A wayward youth recites that full poem to prove his reformation on that movie which is based on a true story. It was also used in the movie "Akeelah and the Bee" to motivate a young African American girl to be her best.
But just a correction, Nelson Mandela never spoke these words or on his inaugural speech in 1994. You can read Mandela's actual speech inaugural speeches at these links: http://www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/history/mandela/1994/inaugpta.html http://www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/history/mandela/1994/inaugct.html
@Lavera1 (896)
• United States
18 Mar 07
Yes, Zoom I've experienced that just about all my life even with my own parents and siblings. They were intimidated by the light coming from me. But at such a young age I didn't and couldn't understand why my family responded to me like that.
In school also I was treated in such a way.
Last year I asked my eighty-four year old mother why were people so fearful to be around me. She said something about maybe you're too hard. But I knew the real reason. It's because the darkness wants nothing to do with the light. Darkness doesn't want to be exposed to the light.
There was an 84 year old nieghbor across the street from us who had never spoken to me before, even as a child and I told my mom about it two years ago the next few days he walked across the street to shake my hand and speak to me. This neighbor would speak to my mom and to some of my other sisters and brothers but never to me.
Thank the Lord for the light. You'll know the truth and the truth will make you free.
