Who Are You, Really?

As independent professionals, many of us consider being successful and making money as the "litmus test" of our success as we contribute to the world ... we ultimately want to make a difference, to live our passions everyday and to find fulfillment as we make our mark on the world.

 It's amazing how owning our own businesses often tries our conviction--the very nature of the process tries our souls, reveals our insecurities and our fears, and exposes our demons.

 I love the inaugural speech Nelson Mandela gave when he became president of South Africa.  I think this is especially important for us to remember as we persevere through this journey:

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 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 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.

Nelson Mandela