Monthly Thoughts

Nelson Mandela's 1994 Inaugural Speech

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 enlightening 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'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.