Parting Thoughts

“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*

For many years, this quote and so many others hung on my walls. I had a habit of painting colorful signs as visual reminders of where I wanted to go, of who I wanted to become. Those signs, and the act of choosing and painting them, helped me. At least, I thought they were helping me. The rubber meets the road when old programming surfaces and intellect is asked to take a back seat to action.

As I approach getting back out on the road to the most exotic, diverse, poor, and potentially dangerous places I've ever visited, my love for waking up in a place where I don't know the language has been met with a fear that I am some how not worthy of a two month trip out of normalcy. 'Am I selfish/foolish to spend so much money on such an elaborate adventure?' 'How do I respond when others react to the length and breadth of the trip?' It's amazing to feel it all come up in the face of my belief that there is an infinite supply of money and time. Uncomfortable. Feelings of guilt, comparison (which is useless), and worry that I am being somehow ridiculous come in waves.

One day a friend of mine, John O'Connor, who helped me transform the forecast of my financial and physical well being through a program called Prosperity Intelligence, repeated Marianne's quote after I'd relayed my apprehension. He reminded me that my shining, not my shrinking, unconsciously allows others to shine. Suddenly, I was reminded of a truth that helped me transcend the sticky, circular world of worry, doubt and fear that was overshadowing this amazing journey in that moment.

I want to shine, in a big, life giving, supportive way. I want to see that Light reflected back and amplified in the 'yes' and the eyes of others. So, thank you, John. John is one of a few close friends and family that I am blessed to have supporting me in this Life. I am so grateful to you, and you know who you are, who have been there to selflessly support me in taking this leap into the world of Africa. If that wave comes back around, I may be callin' ya!

T-10 days to departure.

Here we go!

xo,

c

*Note About Nelson Mandela

This quote is often found on the Internet incorrectly credited to Nelson Mandela from his Inauguration Speech, 1994, especially the last sentence of that quote, “As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

For reference, here is a link to an official African government site:

* Statement Of The President Of The African National Congress Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela At His Inauguration As President Of The Democratic Republic Of South Africa Union Buildings - Pretoria, 10 May 1994, via ANC's (African National Congress) Official Web site.