What is your greatest fear?

I was doing a small assignment at work that led me to an all time favorite poem 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 and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We were born to make and 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.”

I first heard part of it in the movie Coach Carter. It basically makes you realise, that the thing we fear most in this life is not some dark evil out there but rather the immense light within our God given spirit. The fear that we can actually be successful, loved, accepted, appreciated. Its actually rather amazing that many of us aren’t even aware of this fear. 

Recently i’ve learned something very disturbing in my personal development. I have a fear of being successful! Yeah you heard me, I’m afraid of success. I’m afraid of the work it takes to be successful and afraid of the way people will treat me when i’m successful. Afraid of people hounding me for money and bad mouthing me because i’m wise enough to know not to lend them any. Afraid of alienating my friends and family who aren’t near the level of success i envision.

Think about it. So many of us have the fear of the greatness within us that we are so good at sabotaging ours paths to success and we aren’t even aware of it. But i’d like us all to be encouraged by this poem. Be brave enough to let the light inside of you shine brightly forth so that we give others permission to do the same.

Shalom