Your Brightness Does Not Dim The Light of Others

I feel like getting personal. Talking about this subject is not easy because it can still push my button of feeling egotistical. Cutting to the chase, I’m tired of playing small so that others can feel important. I’m exhausted from hoisting others up so the world can see their great work. I’m weary of being in meeting after meeting where I’ve bit my tongue or cut my comments short so that it would look like someone else’s brilliant idea. And, I’m no longer going to walk on eggshells when I have something to bring to the table and the voice in my head is ringing that familiar bell of,  “who am I to speak up here? (see quote below)

Listen up! (self talk) Your brightness does not dim the light of others! (click to tweet)

We all are put on this earth, at this time, and with these people because we have unique talents and attributes that are needed! Right here, right now, the world needs my voice, my ideas, and my talent. No one else can bring what I am uniquely here to bring!

So, what do we have to lose? Great question! I know from my own personal experience that there’s plenty to lose. You could get overlooked for a raise or promotion. You might watch from the sidelines as your new venture idea gets implemented by someone else. You could do such a great job advocating on behalf of someone else that they reap all of the rewards of your hard work. The company you build from nothing can be snatched from your control in the blink of an eye! There is plenty to lose and I’ve done my share. Maybe you have, too.

We all have dreams, hopes and aspirations for building a life we love. We’ve been given all the tools we need to do so and it’s our duty to hold them close and keep them safe. When we can be comfortable owning the gifts and talents we inherently have, and when we can realize that our having them does not prevent others from having theirs, we can own our greatness. We can become the beneficial presence we’ve been created to be.

I share this wisdom from Marianne Williamson with you, as inspiration, and because it’s really easy to find whenever you need to be reminded of who you are.

“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.” ~ Marianne Williamson