Week 16 -Shine

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 and fabulous?’
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.
There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won’t feel insecure around you.
We are 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, its’ in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we’re liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
Marianne Williamson: A Return to Love
 
About 10 years ago, I penned and published a book called Living the Light.
 
I was moved to write this book because of my belief that within each of us there is a spark, a light, that is unique, that the world needs us to beam out!
 
We learn from an early age how to fit in, hot to be the people others want us to be, how to get approval and love, and when to light up and when to hit the dimmer switch!
 
What if we never learnt that? What if we had a child, or a pet, or a beautiful rose bush that was too afraid to show us their beauty? What would we want them to know?
 
What stops us? Fear stops us!
Fear of disapproval, of judgement, of rejection, of hurt, of conflict, of not being enough, of failing, of loss.
 
If fear was allowed to reign, how many songs would remain unsung?
How many poems unwritten?
Masterpieces unpainted?
Inventions left to waste?
Feelings left unexpressed?
Connections not made?
 
Brené Brown challenges us to “Show Up”, wholly, fully, in our joys and in our pain, in our triumphs and in our tragedy, to risk being vulnerable, to be who we are here to be, to bring ourselves to the world!
True belonging is the spiritual practice of believing in and belonging to yourself so deeply that you can share your most authentic self with the world and find sacredness in both being a part of something and standing alone in the wilderness. True belonging doesn’t require you to change who you are; it requires you to be who you are.
 
This is where life is found in all its forms!
 
Even as I write this blog – there’s my inner voice saying ‘no-one is listening…just forget about this project…no-one’s reading them anyway…you’re too far behind and have too much else to do…’
This ego-voice isn’t telling the truth – it’s the part of me that is afraid of imperfection, of judgement, of disapproval, of not-being-enough. 
The truth is, I need to write because I need to hear what I’m writing…this is my discipline…my truth telling…and I will continue to the best of my ability to sing my song, to shine my light…no matter how dim it might feel from time to time…thank you for your encouragement…you know who you are…may my words inspire you to shine your own unique rays of light into the world…may you know this truth…It is safe to beam me!!
 
Radiantly yours! Gab
 
Reference:
Brené Brown ~ Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone