My circle of friends has always been quite small.
I don’t do well in groups and group conversation at all. I used to fight this and try way too hard which would only make me socially awkward and insecure about being accepted.
All I ever want is to make a connection and have good conversations, which doesn’t happen in a group scenario, so I’m always left feeling unfulfilled and disappointed after.
I rarely attend parties for this reason, and if I do I’m uncomfortable the whole time.
I’ve learned the best way for me to connect with someone is over a cup of tea or out for a walk.
And that’s where I’ve had some of the very best conversations of my life.
Philosophy? Bring it on!
Analyzing? I’m all in!
Solving problems? Hells yeah!
One of my closest friends taught me the huge value of dissecting and diving into the meaning of quotes that float around the world and on the internet.
What a gift this has been, it has brought me gems of wisdom and trinkets of insight over and over. It never stops giving.
I love when I read something one day then go back to it later and it has a whole new meaning based on my deeper understanding or which particular lens I’m looking through.
This Marianne Williamson quote was one of the first quote my friend gave to me. There is so much in it and I go back to it often finding new meaning in the words.
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. 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. It’s not just in some of us; it is 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.
I mainly focused on the first 3-4 sentences for the longest time, I would keep these words in my head and start to dig in and notice when and where my fears of being powerful where playing out in my life.
Lately the 2 parts that have really stuck in my mind are “Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking” and “as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same”.
I have been noticing when someone shares a vulnerable story in an appropriate time and place others chime in too, and when someone opens a door by being brave, others walk through it also.
As usual, I can’t see this one from the inside. I can’t see where letting my light shine has given others permission to do the same, and I expect you won’t either.
But we have to trust that it’s happening and use this power wisely.
This is the coolest phenomenon… please let your light shine and be all you can be.
“There is nothing enlightened about shrinking”.