Why Are You Playing Small?

Playing Small

 

Sometimes when I am not feeling my normal me, I talk to myself. I don’t do it in my own voice, because I know that’s just me, I do it in the voice of Nelson Mandela. (If you think I’m crazy, you should meet my children.)

I often quote President Mandela, quoting Marianne Williamson from Return to Love.

“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…There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.”

By the time I get to the shrinking part, I feel my help coming.

Too often, we feel the need to be less of who we are and are meant to be. We don’t want to offend or think too highly of ourselves.

We’ve all been told that we are not, “all that.”

I’m telling you that you are. You are beautiful and amazing. You are a light and were meant to shine as children do.

When my granddaughter is carried into a room, she doesn’t have to do anything. Everyone wants to hold her, to touch her fingers and toes and to just be near her. We all know that she truly is a bundle of joy.

I feel that it’s my job to make sure she always feels that way.

I know that life will tell her that she shouldn’t think she’s cute or smart or terrific but I hope that I’ll be near whenever it does.

At that point I will do my best Nelson Mandela impersonation and remind her that, “She was born to make manifest the glory of God that is within.”

Stop playing small. Stop shrinking so others may shine. The world needs every light, when you shine, you give others permission to do the same.

Be you, be the light, SHINE!

Bertice Berry, PhD.

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