Marianne Williamson on Fear and Spiritual Gifts
Tuesday, June 21st, 2005When I’ve taught courses on spiritual gifts I’ve usually come across people who grapple with low self esteem. They look at the list of spiritual gifts in the inventory and say “I don’t recognise myself in here.” And then there’s people who avoid identifying strengths for fear of putting themselves forward and being found lacking. And then there’s those who compare themselves with their more ‘gifted’ brothers and sisters.
The process of exploring spiritual gifts need not be one of fitting people into boxes. At it’s best this can be a permission-giving process. Permission to let go of fear. Fear of not measuring up. Fear of offending. Fear of failing. Fear of shining even.
I’ve used a quote often attributed to Nelson Mandela but in fact from the pen of Marianne Williamson.
“Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us. We ask ourselves, “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, handsome, 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 won’t feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us. It is not just in some; it is 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 fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
A Return to love
Tags: charismatic, Marianne Williamson, postcharismatic, spiritual gifts, Spirituality
