The speaker quoted only the first three sentences, but it is such a powerful idea. My graduating friend didn't find the speakers interesting, but this had a huge impact on me, especially because I am currently embarking on a journey to avoid falling into mediocrity. My ambitions will flounder if I stay in Victoria forever; my story will not be the one I want to live if I stay put.“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 other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are 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.”
I also know this passage to be true: when I was seventeen, I was terrified by God whispering "I have big plans for you." That's a lot to handle for a seventeen year old.
Why are we so afraid of ourselves? Is it that we fear reproach from others for our successes? I mean, if everyone else settles for mediocrity, the successful or those who follow their dreams remind the mediocre of what they failed to achieve with their lives. It's easier to be mediocre when everyone else around you is doing the same.
My decision to take this journey across Canada was rather abrupt and perhaps sounds a bit crazy to others and, because of that, I was expecting resistance from everyone I told. Instead, I have been blown away by the positive support from everyone. They are proud of me for taking a leap, and everyone has said that they don't think they could do it but admire my courage nonetheless.
I believe we all need to be reminded, including myself, that we are beautiful creatures, powerful beyond measure.
You are capable of wonderful things.