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
Today I’m reminded of this powerful quote by Marianne Williamson. Confronted with all the ways and places in my own life where I still shy away from greatness – where I still fall into old patterns. Where I still play it small. The path of awakening can be so humbling!
And yet we are human. Radical compassion is the measure of how “far along” we are on the spiritual path. When we stumble and fall, when we veer slightly off course, how quickly can we recover? How quickly can we restore compassion for ourselves and others and recognize that we are in a NEW MOMENT, NOW?
We can’t change the past, and we can’t predict the future, but we DO have full agency over how we show up in the present moment. And that is something.
So: how will you choose to show up today? How can you give yourself a fresh start? RIGHT NOW!
When I feel REALLY stuck – and actually have enough awareness to realize I am STUCK (hooray!) – I turn to the practice of dance as medicine.
Without fail, if I can get my body in motion, if I can get out of my head – the mind drama starts to dissolve, nothing is a big deal, and I remember there is always something to work with (emotion, sensation, movement, information) in the here and now.
Dance is the best reset button (my personal favorite) – a tool that allows us to literally change channels and remember WE ARE NOT OUR MINDS. Movement beckons us back to the present moment. In that shift, in that return to wholeness and presence, it becomes possible again to access our greatness, our power – and remember how much CHOICE we actually do have to create from the now.
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
Where in your life are you not fully owning and embodying your power?