My deepest fear is not that I am inadequate. My deepest fear is that I am powerful beyond measure. It is my light, not my darkness that most frightens me.
I ask myself, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who am I not to be? I am a child of God. My playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around me.
I am meant to shine, as children do. I was born to make manifest the glory of God that is within me. It’s not just in me; it’s in everyone. And as I let my own light shine, I unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As I am liberated from my own fear, my presence automatically liberates others.
PS: Originally, this quote was “Author Unknown.” Thanks to Elizabeth Aleccia for identifying the author. The title and text have been corrected to exactly match the author’s quote.