Today we witnessed the solar eclipse and in our Leap to Confidence classroom the topic was Identifying and Sharing Your Strengths. It was the perfect moment to take some time for reflection.
It’s so easy to cover up who we really are and to hide our gifts and talents. You might find that you tend to do the same, to discount your own good traits or skills.
Each of our resilient courageous women uncovered a few of her gifts and shared them. It was liberating and freeing and encouraging. During the morning break we went outside and made pinhole cameras with our hands and reflected the eclipsed image of the sun on the pavement. When we came back in the classroom we talked about how important it is to recognize our own light and be willing to be bold enough to let it shine.
Here is the powerful poem that Nelson Mandela spoke at his 1994 Inauguration. It is especially fitting for this time. Take a moment and read it and let the words sink in.
Nelson Mandela’s Inaugural Speech 1994
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 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 this world.
There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other
people won’t feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us;
It is 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!
