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 frightens us most. 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 unsure around you, we are all meant to shine as children do.

We were born to 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.

By Marianne Williamson, from her book Return to Love

These words were spoken to the nation and to the World by Nelson Mandela at his inaugural speech upon becoming the president of South Africa.