Our Deepest Fear

A poem by Marianne Williamson (with religious references removed) that I plan on reading to my students next week.

“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?

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 spirit 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.”

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Heather // Sep 24th 2009 at 5:26 pm

This has been one of my favorite pieces of text since I first read it in college. Thank you for reminding me.

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Erick B // Sep 24th 2009 at 8:22 pm

Which religious references are your talking about? Such a beautiful poem…

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MsStewart // Sep 24th 2009 at 8:33 pm

Interesting that this gets misattributed fairly often (including in the movie Akeelah and the Bee) to Nelson Mandela

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Teresa B // Sep 24th 2009 at 9:05 pm

This is one of my very favorite pieces. I needed to be reminded of this. Thank you!

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Pam Thompson // Sep 29th 2009 at 6:09 am

This was given to me once when I was considering (reluctantly) a promotion position. But as MsStewart quite rightly points out it is often attributed to Nelson Mandela.

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Mark Walker // Nov 16th 2009 at 6:35 am

Thanks for the reference. I heard this quote on the Coach Carter DVD I was watching with my son a few months back.

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