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 and 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
will not 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 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.
May you awaken to the mystery of being here and enter the quiet immensity of your own presence.
May you have joy and peace in the temple of your senses.
May you receive great encouragement when new frontiers beckon.
May you respond to the call of your gift, and find the courage to follow it's path.
May the flame of anger free you from falsity.
May warmth of heart keep your presence aflame.
May anxiety never linger about you.
May your outer dignity mirror an inner dignity of soul.
May you take time to celebrate the quiet miracles that seek no attention.
May you be consoled in the secret symmetry of your soul.
May you experience each day as a sacred gift woven around the heart of wonder.
John O'Donohue - "Eternal Echoes"
"A man who was entirely careless of spiritual things died and went to hell. And he was much missed on earth by his old friends. His business agent went down to the gates of hell to see if there was any chance of bringing him back. But, though he pleaded for the gates to be opened, the iron bars never yielded.
His priest went also and argued: "He was not really a bad fellow, let him out, please!" but the gates remained stubbornly shut against all their voices.
Finally his mother came, she did not beg for his release. Quietly, and with a strange catch in her voice, she said to Satan, "Let me in." Immediately the great doors swung open upon their hinges. FOR LOVE GOES DOWN THROUGH THE GATES OF HELL AND THERE REDEEMS THE DAMNED."
(Based upon the thoughts of G.K. Chesterton)