We’re all familiar with the inspirational quotes raving about failure: the thousands of shots Michael Jordan missed; Babe Ruth’s record number of strike outs; or Maya Angelou’s “We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated.”

That’s great for people who have made great success in their lives doing what they love. But what about the rest of us? If you’re embarking on a new career or business, it can be intimidating to step out of your comfort zone and risk … failure. Women, in particular, are emerging in greater numbers as successful and ambitious entrepreneurs, lured by the appeal of setting their own hours and income. But great success doesn’t happen overnight, and certainly not without taking risks and experiencing setbacks. 

We fear the unknown. But what if…… our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate?  What if… our deepest fear is that we are POWERFUL beyond measure?  As Marianne Williamson from A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles mentioned in a piece call “Our Deepest Fear”. 

This really resonated with me and it’s definitely a great piece of conversation and thought provoking.   What if 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’re 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, like the beautiful stars do.  We were born to manifest the glory within us.  It’s not just in some of us; it’s in all of us.

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.