Enlightened

"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, 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 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."

- Marianne Williamson (A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of a Course of Miracles)

  God did not give us gifts to stifle in self-righteous humility or unreasonable insecurity. Gifts are meant to be opened and used. Imagine if you took special care to make a meaningful gift for someone, and he or she opened it, thanked you, and put the gift back in the box and never touched it again. How would that make you feel? God wants us to unwrap his gifts and use them completely to their fullest potential. We shouldn't be afraid to express our hearts and the gifts God has given us unreservedly. The more open you are, the more you reveal your world to others, and the more you utilize your talents for their sake, the more impact you can have on their lives. They will subconsciously find themselves unreserved and reassured.