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There are some things that have been written, that have been said, that are so spectacular, that so capture a truth of the universe in a way that absolutely is undeniable, regardless of our prejudices or ideas to the contrary that it is perhaps impossible to hear/read/share them too much. The quote below is one such writing. It is from A Return to Love by Marianne Williamson.
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, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. 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, as children do. We were 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.
by Marianne Williamson
from A Return To Love:
Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles
(I used this quote in a newsletter I sent out last year. Some people wrote to me their gratitude for it. Some others wrote to me saying how sad it was that I was mis-attributing this Nelson Mandela quote to this white woman New Age teacher. One wrote to say how sad it was that Marianne herself was taking credit for this Nelson Mandela quote. So if you're still out there reading along, please visit the disclaimer on Mr. Nelson Mandela's site before writing again.)
This is an inspired expression of a beautiful idea that absolutely is in alignment with the Veda.
"We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God."
The Veda would remind us that though we are in fact individuals, on another level we all are individual expressions of one, whole, complete consciousness, of nature itself; that nature itself in turn is at one with God. Like waves on the ocean, each of them an individual expression of ocean, we are individual movements in the field that is God. Not separate from or different than.
We must insist on expressing the brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous not just because that's what we are (though we are), but because that's what God is.
That's our job. To express God.
Thank you, Marianne, for following your own direction and continuing to express the brilliant, the gorgeous, the talented and the fabulous.
Today I will be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous simply because it's my job. But also because it could be fun.
Flowers, Studio City
All material copyright Jeff Kober
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