A while ago, I wrote about how it was time to let our light shine – the famous inspirational words, often incorrectly attributed to Mr Nelson Mandela at his inuauguration. The words are actually from Marianne Williamson from her book “A Return to Love”.

Well, a friend has just sent me the above Youtube link where the original words are beautifully presented in sign language.

Another friend has also pulled me up once again for holding myself back and not letting my own light shine! So this message is very timely for me – and my friend is holding me accountable for me to stop holding back and to let me own light finally shine.

OK – it has been a challenging few months, but who am I not to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? And who are you not to be the same?!

Nelson Mandela is said to have used some of these words, either during his inauguration as South African president, or soon after. Though there is no record of this in any of his official speeches, he is sure to have agreed with the powerful message of these 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?
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 all of us!
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.”

Go and let your light shine from today 🙂