Living an extraordinary life – Robert White on audacious self-declaration

Let your light shine

Robert White writes:

One of the most powerful pieces of writing that I’ve ever seen is from Marianne Williamson’s book A Return to Love.

It was quoted by Nobel Prize–winner Nelson Mandela in his inaugural address, and perhaps you’ve heard it before.

I used a sentence from it when talking earlier about risking.

I keep the full quote in my desk, and I refer to it often.

Listen closely and consider your own life as you listen to Marianne’s 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.

“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 is 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 is. 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.”

What powerful words. ///

Alter your mind and discover yourself

Around the beginning of the 20th century, psychologist William James said, “The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitude of mind.”

Earl Nightingale quoted James in his Lead the Field program more than 30 years ago, and 100 years later at the dawn of a new millennium, James’ statement is just as true, and, ultimately, attitude is much of what this program is about. It’s a key foundation piece in the adventure of living an extraordinary life.

Creating an attitude that works is much more than just thinking positively.

It requires attention to a deeper part of ourselves than can be gained by just listening to a motivational speaker. It requires the sometimes challenging work of gaining a new level of self-discovery, self-understanding, self-acceptance, and audacious self-declaration.

Robert White – from his article The Beginning of an Extraordinary Life.

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