sborton84’s BodyBlog

I had to reiterate the first couple sentences a couple of times because I was so awestruck my truth.
 
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.”
 
To think…we’re afraid of being powerful beyond measure. I find great truth in that statement. When I think about the lengths that I could go, the things I could accomplish, the lives I could save, the impact I could have – my mind starts to short-circuit. Each little thought and flickering ember of what I could do is a shock to my system. Talk is one thing. But doing is another.
 
Imagine yourself powerful beyond measure. What would you do with your power? How would you spend your time? What would you accomplish?
 
What if you already are powerful beyond measure? What if it’s inside you, right now? What’s your next step? What are you going to do today and tomorrow to shine?
 
“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.”
 
Why are we so afraid of “our light?” We’ve all been conditioned to have some negative inner thoughts regarding our intelligence, our social skills, our potential, our bodies. What is it that causes us to veer right of confidence? Why not embrace it?
 
I remember when I was very little, 6 maybe 7 years old. I remember having so much fun one day in art class. The art teacher brought tons of construction paper, tissue paper, ribbons, sparkly paint, glue, jagged scissors, and all sorts of things that I never had at home. Being the little artist that I was, I took all of our class art projects seriously. I always wanted to be the best. I always strived to have the best design that got showed off to the entire class. Well, on this specific day, we were instructed to construct hats that represented our personality. My dad always told me that I was his “little princess.” At that very young age, I was a princess. I believed I was beautiful. I believed I was talented. I believed and I believed. (Faith like a child, anyone?) So what type of hat did I make? A princess hat, of course! So, for the next hour and a half, I glued, painted, spun ribbon, and folded tissue paper. When finished, the teacher instructed us to go around and show off our designs to the class. I received many compliments – but I don’t remember what was said. All I remember is the response I got from another girl in my class, “That’s nice…Sara…but just look at your hands.”
 
I looked down at my nail-bitten, dried glue, paint splattered hands and suddenly felt ashamed. I wanted to run. That was the first memory I have of when the world told me that something I created wasn’t good enough. That having perfectly manicured hands was somehow more important than my talent within.
 
We ALL have these memories. Times when friends hurt us, the group didn’t accept us, coworkers gossiped, or the in-laws said hurtful words behind our backs. We’ve had people bring us down, tell us or at least infer that we might not be able to accomplish certain things.
 
“You want to be what? A musician? Musicians never make it.”
“You want be a writer? Are you serious? You’ll be living homeless in no time.”
“You want to what? Be a bodybuilder? Fitness model? Actor? Actress?”
 
 
Maybe we should just listen a little closer to what the world thinks and get a little more depressed. What they are really saying is, “Come on people. Don’t you know that these types of things aren’t possible! I mean, who are you to dream? Who are you to dream and make me feel like I should have done something more with my life? Who are you to dream and make me feel even more insecure than I already am? You with your big dreams, and your big goals. You’ll never make it. I never did.”
 
Then they think quietly alone, “I never even tried.”
 
 Those types of people are NOT worth our time. They are like weeds. They infest beauty with ugliness. They choke life out of living beings slowly, until the ground grows dry. We cannot help that these people have affected us. It is nearly impossible to erase the negative memories they cause. But, we can learn from those memories. We can learn and grow, but we HAVE to acknowledge that they caused damage to our soul. Once we are honest with ourselves, our eyes are opened to the darkness that we still hold. We simply need to let go, and trust God with our burdens.
 
Let’s look at the next part of this quote:
 
“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.”
 
Repeat, the glory of God this is within us.
 
To think – we are already empowered. We are already strong. We have what it takes inside of us. And, we are meant to shine. Despite the negative beliefs with may have developed over years of growing cold due to disappointments, loss, and criticism, they are simply that – negative beliefs. They can be transformed. What we need to shine is already there. We simply need to believe in it, use it, and step forward. Sure, we’re afraid of being larger than life. Maybe a little “too strong.”
 
But really, is it possible, to be “too strong?” I don’t think so. Every day is an opportunity to grow and to face another fear. Whether it’s fear in the weight room, fear in the work place, fear between family members, or fear to face the past and surrender our hurt, we are given a choice.
 
Despite the “weeds” that will always be intimidated by our determined goal-oriented mindsets, there are plenty of people who will be inspired. As you grow strong, others find themselves dreaming about being strong. Soon, your strength begins to spread as if it were contagious.
 
May your spirit be infectious. May your thinking be challenged. May you shine in this dark, unhappy world, and help ignite and liberate the hearts of others.