Feel Good Friday: Who are You Not to Be?

The other night I was fortunate enough to catch the movie Akeelah and the Bee on television. My seven year old daughter was with me, and I thought this was a great opportunity to inspire her. As we watched, I saw her light up, but also felt something in myself begin to stir. Here's the famous quote from the movie. Read it and remember your greatness. 

"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."

-Marianne Williamson

 You can find this in Marianne Williamson's A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of "A Course in Miracles". I also love her book Illuminata: A Return to Prayer.(This is not Illuminati, please be clear.) It has prayers for everything from healing emotional pain to amend prayers, that seek to make amends to Native Americans, African Americans, and others who have experienced large scale injustice. If you're like me, and sometimes can't come up with the right words to articulate your prayers, this is a great ally.