“Our biggest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our biggest 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? 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…and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.”
I see in myself and in so many young women I meet, a fear of being powerful… a fear of overstepping boundaries, or taking on more than we can handle. Doubting our talents, second guessing our decisions, living in a way that keeps us just inside our “safe zone.” Afraid of hurting someone we know, or losing close friends by shining a little brighter. What would happen if we were to throw those thoughts behind us and take bold steps towards our biggest dreams and our wildest imagination? It’s in all of us, the power to shine – We just have to be willing to accept it, embrace it, and shine on.
It’s better to take a jump and to fall than to never take the risk and always wish you had.
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Because, what if you do land on the other side? What if you do make it to the point you were aiming for? It could be a long shot, but you just might surprise yourself. There will always be people in your life that try to dull your light so they can shine a little brighter, that push you down to get ahead. But by shining while still encouraging them to be all they can be, we help stop the cycle. We make the world a little better. We start to believe in ourselves and in each other.
I’ve played small one too many times in my life. I’ve backed down, let others take the spotlight, doubted my abilities and have been embarrassed to step up. I’ve convinced myself I’m not good enough, or not ready for a “leadership position”, that I don’t have the experience, or that there are others surely better than me.
Luckily, I’ve had some pretty amazing people in my life encouraging me, pushing me to reach for my goals, and always making sure I knew I was brilliant, fabulous, and good enough. I wonder what I could accomplish one day if I let go of the fear, let go of the doubt and just let life happen.
Today, I give myself permission to shine. I challenge YOU to do the same. What are you afraid to try? What have you always wanted to accomplish but never thought you were good enough to do? … Go DO IT, whatever it is. Each day, we wake up with the opportunity to start fresh, to be whoever we want to be.
Be powerful. Be a leader. Be confident. Be fabulous. Be YOU!
Give yourself permission to SHINE :)
Keep Smiling :)
HappyGirl Happenings 