You may not know it but you are impacting someone in your life; either from a distance or directly. You are currently giving someone permission to be more than they are – and you don’t realize it.
This is something I want you to read and soak up. Don’t just read this like any other group of words but take the time to feel it. Embrace it, don’t embrace – that is up to you. But, give the time necessary to really understand what the quote is trying to say:
“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. 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. It’s not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights 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
There is nothing scarier than the person in the mirror and yet that very person is supposed to be your biggest fan, not your mortal enemy. That person in the mirror is the sole person you are supposed to trust and embrace, not fight and doubt. That person in the mirror is supposed to love you first because no one else may.
We live in a society that tells us we should place a higher value on the opinion of others in terms of ourselves over our own opinion. Is it any wonder we are a society with the highest depression rate? We have a limited sense of self-appreciation and every sense of “What do YOU think of ME?” (Remember Bette Midler and Beaches?)
Gag me. Okay. Just gag me.
Marianne Williamson has it figured out and yet what her quote fails to mention is that while you are building yourself up you are likely to be doing it alone. However, the silent rewards are incredible and her words tell you why…”you give others permission to do the same.”
Not too long ago a co-worker of mine left her job to pursue her own business venture. During her departure tour of the office, she stopped by my desk to wish me a good day. During our conversation, she told me how inspiring she thought I was. I had a puzzled looked on my face. She told me that when she first met me, when I started at the company, she saw that I was tall, just like her and yet I wore heels and held myself up high. She saw my confidence and that made her feel comfortable. She thought, “Hey, if she can do it, so can I.”
I gave her permission and for six months I had no idea. I did something good for someone else and I had no idea.
My former co-worker had tried to shrink herself because she was one of the few tall women the office. She didn’t dislike her height but she did try to hide her height until I came along and showed her it was okay to be tall and enjoy being tall. She gained confidence in herself because of my confidence. Someone showed her it was okay, even good, to enjoy who and what you are!
What is the point of my story? I will tell you. You may not know it but you are impacting someone in your life; either from a distance or directly. You are currently giving someone permission to be more than they are – and you don’t realize it. As you struggle and hurt, as you fall down repeatedly you are giving someone permission to better herself because she is looking from the outside in on your world. She is watching you and learning from you. YOU are making a difference…even if you believe you are not.
Remember, you may not be impressed by you but someone is inspired by you. Just because you don’t get to hear it does not mean it is not happening…hell, it surprised me.
You are doing it and you don’t even know it!
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