. (Link to Marianne Williamson's official website.)“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 won't 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
I happen to like this quote. But how do we get to the point where we're liberated from our own fear?
Well, I don't know, for certain.
But I do know that doing things that you're afraid of is instrumental to being liberated from our own fear. It can be as relatively minor as getting up to sing at a karaoke bar or open-mic music night, reciting a poem you wrote at some random open-mic poetry reading, bungee-jumping or doing aerial acrobatics (one of my personal favorites - link for more, hollywoodaerialarts.com), trying a new sport, taking a dance class, and doing on-line or speed dating. Anything that makes you feel afraid, but you're sort of interested in doing, you should do in the name of liberating yourself from your own fear. You see, from what I understand about the human psyche, especially the subconscious, is that your being doesn't know the difference between "big" and "little" fears. In other words, if you're a little afraid of singing in public, but a lot afraid of heights, you can prepare yourself, even desensitize yourself by singing in public as a preparation for aerial acrobatics, bungee jumping, or cliff diving. As you start to liberate yourself from your fear in small ways, it'll help mobilize you to face the more daunting fears.
Marianne Williamson has it right, thank the heavens. So many self-help types have good theories, but their practical application falls short. Her book is worth checking out, but more than sitting around and reading (truly one of my favorite past-times), if you really want to liberate yourself from your fear, do something you're afraid of. Start with the "small" stuff. Trust me, being liberated from your own fear will inspire others to be liberated from their own.
More Interesting Katie Strand World Posts
- The smallest non-child, non-midget person I've ever seen
- Stupid trumps hot
- The 15 Things that Pasteurization Kills
- A hugging, laughing, happy mess
- The HPV vaccination could be more dangerous than what it "prevents"
- Is Jake Pavelka a douche bag?
- It's all about interpretation
- Have you forgotten how glorious you are?
- The best reason for DONUTS
- Dr. Mercola recommends raw milk!
- We'd all be pillars of salt
- James Cameron was robbed!
- What do you want?
- The Real British Invasion or...Hey there Brit, how's your American accent?
- Andre Agassi is now Open
- Farts
- Love & Hate. Drugs & Rebellion.
- Occam's Razor - It's a Life & Faith Principle
- If Richard Pryor had a period...
- If you're prone to nudeness...
- Hello, my name is Temple Grandin.
- Blog tease, yelling to no one & the secret to long...
- My Addendum to "Choose a Job You Love..."
- The Primal Diet & Running
- Chop Wood, Carry Water, Do Taxes
- The male member revealed
- Play with the Girls
- How to tame the psycho hose beast
- Oh boy, that's a good question! or How to Deal with the Census
- These boots were made for walking
- If I were a Ninja, I'd wear these shoes
- How my friend Sally became the new First Lady
- My Boyfriend has Autism...Maybe
- Raw Primal Papaya Custard - The Nectar of the Gods
- And All the Cows Said Moo!
- If you were John Mayer, you would too
- Tiredness - Varieties of and unforeseen side-effects
- Foreplay is overrated
- Food should be As God Intended or Why isn't everything we eat organic?
- Yelling - One of the Highest Forms of Compassion
- The Cove - Louie Psihoyos' Oscar speech & a guide on how to create change...
- My Favorite Things...Arrabiata Recipe - Fresh, Organic, Vegan or Primal
- My Favorite Shows on Television...or how David Duchovney & Jesus are likely Good in Bed
- The Hawaiian Islands and Washington D.C.’s sand-paper circle-jerk about Health Care
- My Buddha has Termites...A Lesson in Infinite Joy
- The One-Date-Wonders!
- I had to learn SIGN LANGUAGE when I moved to Los Angeles
- Guys can make a game out of anything
- Hello? The power of CONNECTING and how technology has changed things
- Popping the question is better than porn!
- Bravo, Stephen Colbert & Co! and your Olympic Vancouverage
- Songwriting is like SEX
- Born To Run by Christopher McDougall - Inspiring a inspiring all of us to be more in the FLOW
- A moment of silence for all the plastic surgery casualties
- Ricky Gervais should be the new Simon on American Idol
- Muscle SURPRISE! The key to physical, mental & emotional fitness
- I think my boyfriend's a snake...
- Release... Sweat & Power
- MY FAVORITE THINGS! - Vibram's Five Fingers
- Dick Morris... How do you sleep at night?
- Rusty DePass, Gorillas, and Obama, oh my!
- Michael Jackson - Troubled Genius
