Mental Health Counseling Indianapolis Indiana

Try Reading This Aloud....

My deepest fear is not that I am inadequate.
My deepest fear is that I am powerful beyond measure.
It is my light, not my darkness, that most frightens me.

I ask myself, "Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented, and fabulous?"

Actually, who am I not to be?

I am a child of God.
My playing small doesn't serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that
other people won't feel insecure around me.

I was born to make manifest the glory of God
that is within me.
It's not just in me,
it's in everyone.

And as I let my own light shine, I unconsciously
give other people permission to do the same.
As I am liberated from my own fear,
my presence automatically liberates others.

For a number of years now, this has been one of my favorite quotations. So much so that those of you who have gotten this newsletter since the beginning may recognize that I have presented it before. Although the quote has often been incorrectly attributed to others, it actually comes from author Marianne Williamson in her book A Return to Love. However, when Marianne wrote it, she used the pronouns "our" and "we" in place of the "my" and "I" statements. It is a moving passage as she wrote it to be sure. And yet, when I make the change to say "I" the focus and power of the passage seems to change dramatically. Using "I" it forces me to really look at the possibility of the truth of this powerful statement within myself. And I often find that at once exhilarating and frightening.

What does it mean if this really is true? It seems pretty clear by the final lines that the author is not advocating arrogance, narcissism or grandiosity. So the questions may become: Can I "make manifest the glory of God that is within me" and still be humble, kind and accepting of others? To what extent has a social norm of not being selfish, overbearing or bragging expanded within me and others to actually lead to devaluing, holding back or denying in order to be acceptable or non-offensive?

What would it look like to fully honor the gifts I have been given, to fully my utilize talents, abilities and inspirations? And if it is true that to do this is the most frightening thing, what is the fear about? What would be the risk to consider that this might be true for you?

John Goll is an Indiana Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). He helps couples, families and individuals understand the patterns of thoughts, feelings and behaviors that keep them from having the relationships and the successes that they desire, while working with them to mobilize their ability and power to make the choices and changes that will make a real difference in their lives.

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