I met a woman at a conference years ago. We got to talking and she shyly told me she had written a book that had been recently published. I was impressed and told her so.
Instead of being proud of what she’d done, she downplayed it by making excuses for what she had accomplished. She didn’t seem to believe she deserved success.
I asked her about this.
She said it made her nervous and fearful to acknowledge that she was A SUCCESS, especially since she had not sold any books yet.
Before we could talk more about this, the workshop moved on and I didn’t have a chance to talk with her again. I wished I had.
I would have said to her, “Wait a minute! What’s wrong with feeling powerful and strong about what you DID accomplish? You wrote a book and it was published! What’s wrong with believing you deserve every piece of that success?”
Most of all, I wished I had asked her what made her afraid of success.
But I didn’t.
Today, as I was clearing out files on my computer, I came across a passage entitled, Our Deepest Fear, written by Marianne Williamson. I’ve had it for a long time and I was compelled to read it again. It reminded me of the woman I’d met at the workshop.
Since I have no way to contact her, I’m doing the next best thing. I’m posting this passage on my blog and trusting that it will get to her if she still needs it.
If not, maybe someone like her will read it and fully celebrate who they are and what they’ve accomplished.
Maybe even you.
If you haven’t read it yet, now is your chance. If you’ve read it before, read it again. It’s worth it!!!!
Our Deepest Fear
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, and 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 enlightening about shrinking so that other people won’t feel unsure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.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
Now it’s your turn to share:
What have you done that made you feel “powerful beyond measure?”
How did you acknowledge what you did?
How does fear stop you from “letting your own light shine?”
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Kathy @ Virtual Impax 11.17.08 at 11:33 am
Great story! I can relate. I had to hire a coach to help me “remove” the mental obstacles I had in my way which were preventing me from finishing my book. The fact that she got her book finished is a HUGE accomplishment.
But isn’t it funny how- “well, I haven’t sold any” gets in the way of enjoying the success of actually FINISHING the project!
By the way, the next step is the, “I haven’t sold ENOUGH” phase.
It’s a dangerous game - the “enough” game.
I did feel powerful when I first published my book. Now, it’s been 2 years and I’m playing the “enough” game.
Fear is my biggest enemy - a close 2nd is its closest companion “enough”.
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