Hope you had a wonderful holiday. I know many of you are getting back to work tomorrow, January 4th, and I myself am getting back to my routine. This past week and a half has been a time of reflection for me. It was sort of the theme for this Christmas and New Year. Ryan and I both came down with the flu and it took almost a week for us to feel back to our usual selves. I can’t even remember the last time I had the flu, let alone getting hit this hard with a bug. This was a reminder for me to listen to my body. To take time to rest and chillax. So that is what I did. I also journaled, got a massage, and watched a lot of movies… Avatar was fantastic. Sometimes rest and a little TLC is the best medicine.
This morning, after doing some journaling and stretching, I started my day off with an email from my Mom. She always sends me the cutest videos and inspirational quotes. 
This morning’s email contained the following quote from a woman names 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.
I read this and I literally felt my heart open.
Whether or not you believe in God or {insert term for a higher power here} the point is that you are who you are, and you should embrace that. We are all gifted in some way and we need to tune-in to allow that talent to come out, and when it does, nurture it and support it.
We are often taught that it’s not right to do things that bring a lot of attention to ourselves, or play up our strengths, or use the gifts and talents that come easily to us when we are around others who don’t excel in that same way. It’s time to stop dimming your light. It’s time to start paying attention and embracing the parts of yourself where you truly shine. What a great insight and theme for this new year, and new decade.
So, in honor of shining your light… what do you think?
What gifts and talents do you have that it’s time to liberate?
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Sheila – love this!! My light is starting to shine by working with Valerie Waters in her RCR forum and reading all your inspirational posts – I feel this year is going to be a blinding blaze and feel very thankful !!
– Hugs girl! xoxo
Hugs back LeeAnne! 2010 is the year of blinding blaze!
WOW,this is has always been one of my all time favorite quotes! Thanks for the reminder of what it means:)
My pleasure Tracey!
Felt so hopeless looking for anersws to my questions…until now.
Sheila, I feel like my life and heart have opened so much by working with Valerie Waters (like Leeanne said), the RCR club and also by getting to know you! It took me awhile to get to this latest post and I knew it was going to get me thinking about this year and letting my own light shine. I’ve often felt some strange shame & embarrassment with putting myself out there…it’s fear, though…fear on several different levels. 2010 is where I put my light out there without fear or shame or worry that somehow I’ll be laughed at.
Great post for a Sunday morning!
Anne, that is so cool. I am so glad to have met you girls and feel honored that I have been a part of your journey.
I believe it is in Seth Godin's book Tribes that he talkes about how the meaning of fear has changed over the history of our existence. In the caveman days, fear was a tool that essentially saved our lives. It was a means of survival. These days, Seth says, fear is the first sign of change… so it is a good thing.
We all feel fear, especially when doing things we aren't used to doing. Me too. I've learned to embrace the fear, feel it, and then move through it!
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