Friday, October 8, 2010

Shine On

















Quotes by some of my favorite writers have appeared from time to time on my blog and occasionally, before posting them, I discover that their origin is not always what I had first thought. Many quotes that are quite well-known are incorrectly attributed. I'd like to share one of my favorites with you.

I first read this while under the impression that it originated with Nelson Mandela in his inauguration speech of 1994. In fact, these words have never been spoken by him, although many powerful and life-affirming quotes are correctly attributed to this very fine man. I have since come to know that it originates with Marianne Williamson, and comes from her book, A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles, published in 1992. You're probably familiar with it, but I share it today as a reminder to myself and for others who may not remember or be familiar with it. It bears repeating. Often. It's titled "Our Deepest Fear." She states:

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.


It's another gorgeous day in Minnesota.






















21 comments:

  1. Oooh how beautiful. If ok, I'm going to print this and put it in my kitchen cabinet...this is where I tape sayings that I love.

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  2. Please do! Have a gorgeous weekend, my friend!

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  3. God that's beautiful Teresa. A friend of mine gave me A Course in Miracles for my birthday but I haven't taken the time to really peruse it much yet. I keep coming across these beautiful quotes, the origin of which is that book. I think I need to open it.

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  4. Kristy, I bought A Course in Miracles in 1992, I believe, and perused it, but didn't actually read/study it for about ten years. I continue to go back to it when guided and always seem to open it to exactly what I need to see that moment. BTW: Your little Rufous is a beautiful little Being.

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  5. Great blog mom!!!~ One of my favorites!
    Have a great weekend!
    -Coleman

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  6. First off...what a sweet comment from your son!

    And this quote is so beautiful. I have the course in miracles book and have yet to get through it. I think that the commenter that said she just opens it and finds what she needs....that will have to be something I will need to try.
    Shining on....indeed. I'll copy this quote as well...since I will need many reminders. Thanks for a beautiful post.

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  7. Thank you, son! Have a great weekend, too!

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  8. Karen, There are books that I feel guided to at certain times. I just open them "at random" to see what the Universe has to say to me. It's always illuminating and right on. Thank you for your comments.

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  9. Oh, I'm so glad you posted this. I really do love it, and I'd forgotten about it. So true, so empowering.

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  10. Blissed-Out Grandma is right. That's SO empowering. Didn't know it was a quote of Marianne Williamson, either, but I'm happy to learn that.

    On another note, I just love the paintings you've put in your sidebar. And Thich Nhat Hanh's quote is a favorite. He's brilliant.

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  11. Cheryl, yes, Nancy used the perfect word. Empowering. Thank you, Nancy! And, thank you, Cheryl, for your comments re: my sidebar. I enjoy posting those things that speak to me and glad to hear they speak to others, as well.

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  12. I had never heard of Rumi when we visited the memorial to him in Konya, Turkey last year. Now I see quotes all over the place!

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  13. Just in time, just when I needed it!
    Thank you so much for dropping by on my blog during my 'absence'.
    It was so nice to hear from you out of the blue. It made me feel good!
    You are a very special lady!

    I am fine, doing very good actually.
    It's just that I am in a sort of 'transition' at the moment. It feels that way to me..
    Changing part time jobs, changing the clay and the firing of it and also my body and mind seem to be in some sort of transition.
    It's one of those moment in your live that things seem to want to change but you don't know where you'll be going.
    It's exciting but also tiring and sometimes I feel like I'm floating on a raft without any sense of direction (the exciting part, haha).
    I do feel I need more rest and sleep so I try to listen to what my body tells me and so I 'do' less and rest more.
    Thanks again for stopping by, it is very, very much appreciated!

    And now it's back to a random page in a course in miracles.. :-)

    A big hug,
    Monique

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  14. Linda, Yes, it seems to work that way...once our eyes see something they start to see it more often. I first read his poetry in the writings of either Wayne Dyer or Deepak Chopra Many years ago, then found this beautiful book, The Illuminated Rumi, and my love of his poetry grew from there.

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  15. Dear Teresa,
    Just popp'n in on this blessed day to wish you a Happy Sunday. Enjoy those gorgeous autumn Minnesota colors that I always held in high esteem. My most memorable happenings seemed to take place under those brilliant fall hues.
    Love and Peace.....
    Manzi

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  16. Monique, It's So nice to hear from you. It seems that many people are going through a time of transition. Other friends have expressed the need to really find Peace and in doing so have slowed down the pace of their lives, and their thoughts! I'm working on this myself.

    As you Move Through this period in Life, Know that you're not alone.

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  17. Thank You, Manzi! It has been a glorious week of Indian summer.

    Happy Sunday!
    T

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  18. It's amazing as I saw this quote on my daughter-in-law's wall last night and I was given a copy of it years ago by a friend - and both times is was attributed to Nelson Mandela so I was surprised when I read your post. You say that he never said these words - do you know why it is that I like so many people have been told that these are his words?

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  19. Hi Marilyn, I did some research into this before posting and found many websites and links discussing this incorrect attribution. I even read the entire text of both the May 9th and May 10th, 1994, inauguration speeches by Nelson Mandela and neither contain these words. As I mentioned in my post, Marianne's book was published in 1992. I don't know how these incorrect attributions start, but they do, and it's often difficult, if not impossible, to trace their origin. I urge you to do your own search. There are many sites discussing this.

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  20. and jacques cousteau's quote that -we are all in the same boat- speaks to my most recent realization.

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