Isn’t it strange to consider that sometimes it’s not our weakness or potential failures that creates the most fear in us but the possibility of us experiencing great success?

It is always considered that we desire to achieve success and long to have it but, if the truth but told… success, will ask even greater questions of us, challenge us more as well as highlighting our genius plus frailties.

Success is not for the weak hearted but the reality is we were born to succeed and the very fact you are reading this means you have beaten millions of others who wanted to live. The birds and bees I’m sure you get my drift. Anyhow you are a winner and successful already.

In my reflections of Nelson Mandela as well as being a freedom fighter, a prisoner and a great human he was also a game changer. There are not many who go from being a prisoner to president. Many who go prison afterward struggle to get a job never mind running a country.

Anyway, I just wanted to share a poem that he read at his inauguration, which I thought was profound, and rang a bell for me and maybe it will ring one for too:

Our Greatest Fear – Marianne Williamson

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 does not 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 gives other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
—Marianne Williamson

The truth is regardless of your fears, reservations, reluctances and excuses as Mark Twain says:

So allow fear to run its course because many a time it is false evidence appearing real and the powerful the fear a lot of the times it is an indication of how powerful the mind is of the one having the fear.

So switch it on its head and proceed! Feel the anxiety and do it anyway as you can do it!

Happy Mentoring

Images: intentionalretirement.com (Mark Twain)
Images: knowledgeoverflow.com (Nelson Mandela)