Nelson Mandela and Fear

This speech often makes the rounds on the net, and I came across it yesterday. A friend who gave it to me says he doesn't really believe that Nelson Mandela said these words, but in any event, it's attributed to him. I have a hard time believing that Nelson actually put the word "fabulous" in one of his speeches, but if he did, all the better!


Let Your Light Shine

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 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 doesn't serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us. It is 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 fears, our presence automatically liberates others.

-Nelson Mandela