Our Deepest Fear

by Marianne Williamson

Quoted by Nelson Mandela in his 1994 inaugural speech

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.

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 other people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the

glory of God that is within us.

It is not just in some of us; it's in everyone.

And as we let our light shine, we unconsciously

give others the permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear,

our presence automatically liberates others.