FEBRUARY 2009 Our Deepest Fear

“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 are all meant to shine, as children do. We are 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.”

Apparently this speech was given by Nelson Mandela and was originally written by Marianne Williamson.

💛💕ahhh momentum 🌈Ease,Joy & a hefty level of Safety are Mine 🌈  

Posted on 04/02/2009. Last edited on 01/02/2013.

In response to Lee Nutter’s post:
Wonderful, thanks for sharing that!

That’s great “We are all meant to shine, as children do”

and so true that “As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” —-So true.

_{The fear of humiliation appears to be one of the most powerful motivators in individual and collective human behavior Donald Klein}

Hi Lee, I love this piece. Thanks for posting it here a bmindful. Pat

This quote has been incorrectly attributed to
Nelson Mandela in his inaugural speech of 1994.
He never spoke these words in his speeches that year.
You can read Nelson’s actual inaugural speeches at these links:
http://www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/history/mandela/1994/inaugct.html http://www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/history/mandela/1994/inaugpta.html

The famous passage from her book is often erroneously attributed to the inaugural address of Nelson Mandela. About the misattribution Williamson said, “Several years ago, this paragraph from A Return to Love began popping up everywhere, attributed to Nelson Mandela’s 1994 inaugural address. As honored as I would be had President Mandela quoted my words, indeed he did not. I have no idea where that story came from, but I am gratified that the paragraph has come to mean so much to so many people.”

I AGREE WITH THE PREVIOUS COMMENTS,AND OF COURSE I LOVE M.W.I USE TO ATTEND HER CHURCH YEARS AGO IN MICHIGAN.I BELIEVE THERE ARE A FEW DIFFERENT INGREDIENTS REQUIRED TO STAY ON SOME SORT OF PATH TO GET BEYOND THIS FEAR OF ENLIGHTMENT.IT VARIES PERHAPS FROM ONE PERSON TO ANOTHER.TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE,IN MY EXPERIENCE IT REQUIRES DESIRE, TENACITY,GRACE,AND THE AWARENESS THAT OUR UNCONSCIOUS IS A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH ME DOING THINGS THAT ARE NOT ON IT,S AGENDA.AND WHERE DOES THE UNCONSCIOUS FORMULATE IT,S BELIEFS,USUALLY FROM NEGATIVE MESSAGES ACCUMULATED EVEN PRIOR TO BIRTH,UNTILL WHENEVER WE START TO WAKE UP,20 30 40 YEARS ALOT OF DOUBT AND FALSE BELIEFS CAN POTENTIALLY OCCUR.THE GOOD NEWS THOSE MESSAGES THAT CREATED,NEGATIVE THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS ARE FALSE AND THEY ARE EVEN GETTING TIRED OF THERE NON-SENSE…JUST MY PERSPECTIVE.THAT,S WHY THE JOURNEY IS WHAT MATTERS AND THE DESTINATION IS PART AND PARCEL OF THE JOURNEY…NOW I KNOW SOME OF THAT MADE SENSE

💛💕ahhh momentum 🌈Ease,Joy & a hefty level of Safety are Mine 🌈  

Posted on 08/06/2026.

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1. I am safe enough to breathe.
2. Feeling fear is okay; it will pass.
3. I can do one small thing now.
4. My worth is not my worry.
5. I meet fear with gentle clarity.
6. I am capable of steady progress.
7. I choose one step over many worries.
8. I breathe, center, and act.
9. I trust myself to handle what I can.
10. I allow rest without shame.
11. I return to the task with patience.
12. Small actions build real momentum.
13. I am more than my anxious thoughts.
14. I focus on what I can control.
15. I am resilient and resourceful.
16. I complete what matters one step at a time.
17. I honor my limits and keep moving.
18. I calm my body to steady my mind.
19. I choose priorities with kindness.
20. I give myself permission to try.
21. I let go of perfection to finish well.
22. I prepare, start, and follow through.
23. I trust the process of gradual progress.
24. I am present, focused, and capable.
25. Each completed step brings relief.

💛💕ahhh momentum 🌈Ease,Joy & a hefty level of Safety are Mine 🌈  

Posted on 09/06/2026.

1. It’s okay to take it easy right now.
2. Small beginnings are still progress.
3. I give myself permission to move at my own pace.
4. Rest is productive and necessary.
5. I honor what I need in this moment.
6. One gentle step is enough for now.
7. I can begin without needing to finish it all.
8. Slow effort today builds strength tomorrow.
9. I trust the timing that feels right for me.
10. My pace does not determine my worth.
11. I choose kindness toward myself first.
12. I can start small and adjust as I go.
13. Pause when needed; continue when ready.
14. Every tiny action matters.
15. I prioritize ease over urgency when I can.
16. Progress can be quiet and steady.
17. I notice what helps and do that.
18. Beginning is brave, even if it’s gentle.
19. I meet myself with patience.
20. I allow breaks without guilt.
21. Doing a little is better than doing nothing.
22. I trust myself to know when to rest and when to act.
23. I am enough in rest and in action.
24. I can return to tasks with fresh energy later.
25. This moment’s choice to be gentle serves my future self.