Living in shadows

  "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 wont 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." -Marianne Williamson

  This is probably one of my all time favorite quotes. I have to admit that I've never really believed any of it. My deepest fear was that I am inadequate. That I'm not good enough. That I have nothing to offer the world. I always felt so inferior to other people. So, I hid behind a fake smile. I wasn't my real self. I thought that if I was my real self people wouldn't like me. I think that a lot of us can probably relate to being fake at one point or another. I never really asked the question posed in this quote. Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Instead, I just simply said I'm not brilliant, gorgeous, talented, or fabulous. Like Marianne says, "playing small does not serve the world." She is right. But I think more than that, playing small doesn't really serve God. I am HIS child. How do I make manifest his glory if I'm shrinking back? I AM His child. He is apart of me. He created me to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous! And He created me to shine His glory in this world.
  Lately, I've found myself being real with people. I'm completely goofy, clumsy, weird, awkward, sometimes cranky, and crazy! But I'm God's. What I've learned through being myself is that I AM good enough. People do still like me. But I have also learned that sometimes people are insecure around me. And sometimes people DONT like me.That bothers me. But God made me who I am and I'm not going to shrink back. I love to have fun and be goofy and enjoy life. I try so hard to stay positive and surround myself with positive people. I also try very hard to love people. All people. That's a hard quest! But I think that's what God wants.
  So that's where I'm at. I'm just me. I'm trying to figure out my role in this world. And I just want to live for Christ. I want to be myself. No more hiding and shrinking back. I think its time to shine for the Lord!
  Have a great day my friends!!