This was once attributed to Mandela, but apparently, it was written by someone else. Either way, when I think of Mandela, I think of this. (I once taught it to a class of 10-11 year olds when I was working as a volunteer teacher at the Waldorf Steiner school in Jerusalem. My son was the only Palestinian student amongst 20 or so Israeli kids, so it's always had a special place in my heart.)
RIP.
Our Deepest Fear
By Marianne Williamson
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's 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're liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.
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