Monday, October 19, 2009

How I Choose To Live


"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."


~Nelson Mandela

This is how I choose to live. As a writer, I think it is especially relevant. Just like this quote, I often ask myself the question, "Why not me?"

So now I ask you: Why not you? Whatever it is you're aspiring toward right now, why not you? 



And how do you choose to live?

21 comments:

Donna Gambale said...

I do love that quote.

I've been feeling all sorts of empowered lately for no particular reason, just believing in the possibility of getting published. (Of course, I haven't started querying yet, so I'm riding my happy, confident wave until the rejections come rolling in!)

Here's my life's philosophy:
"When in doubt, make a fool of yourself. There is a microscopically thin line between being brilliantly creative and acting like the most gigantic idiot on earth. So what the hell, leap." - Cynthia Heimel

Windy said...

Such inspiring words. And as you said it, words to live by. There is nothing wrong with knowing you're good, accepting that fact and using it to help you get wherever you're going.

Believing in yourself is not a bad thing.

Thanks for a positive start to the week!

lisa and laura said...

I LOVE this! Why not me, indeed.

Scott said...

For the most part, I cho0se to live as if today were my last day on Earth. Okay, not that vibrantly, but close. I choose to notice the world around me, whether it's the rabbit nibbling furiously at the monkey grass, the squirrel raiding my bird feeders,or the chickadee clinging to the screen and chirping away at my cat, or the smell of pumpkin bread baking, or the sound of leaves popping off the tree on a crisp autumn day . . .

Life is far too short, and I choose not to hurry through life, but rather to wander here, there, and everywhere.

So, why not me? Well, heck yeah, me!!!

Great post!

Cole Gibsen said...

Beautiful post, Elana

Lisa Guill said...

Beautiful.

Stephanie McGee said...

Needed this more than you know.

Thanks.

~Jamie said...

I try to live as a happy person, but I don't always do this. This week, I got into a bit of a tiff, and I don't like being all dramatic like that! So, my goal this week is to NOT be like that and be the happy person I wanted to be.

And, stop asking yourself why NOT me? Whatever you are wanting will happen soon! :)

Tana said...

Wow, hard to follow that. Safe, warm, comfortable, loved =)

Unknown said...

Amen and why not? Fear can be paralyzing, but it isn't how we are meant to feel. I love this!

Tere Kirkland said...

As a child I always felt like it was my time to shine. When did I lose that... self-absorbed confidence? When I started looking for approval for everything I did?

It's time for me to shine again...

Jessica Nelson said...

I've never heard that quote before. Really interesting. I think the play between light and dark, virtue and sin, is fascinating.
I choose to live with Light, by letting it shine. LOL Well, I try to choose that. Sometimes my dark grumpiness gets in the way. Grr.

Renee Pinner said...

Thanks. I needed that.

Anonymous said...

My friend Ali talks like this all the time. I marvel at the human spirit that naturally understands this concept and does more than just apply it to their own life. They give that wisdom and understanding to others. I'm very lucky. Thank you for sharing this.

Unknown said...

I love that and hadn't read it in awhile - thanks for sharing it with us!

Bish Denham said...

Beautiful quote! To live in the light is to throw light into the darkness, while not being able to see into it.

It is the only way to live, even though I can't see very far ahead of me.

Christine Fonseca said...

You know that is one of my favorite quotes of all time. I choose to live my life in the service of others - hopefully inspiring people to their own authenticity!

Thanks for being a source of inspiration in my own life. Luv you!

Little Ms J said...

Here here.

Elana Johnson said...

Thanks guys! I'm glad others were inspired by this quote too. I heard it on "Coach Carter" which I watched last week. I promptly looked it up. Well, okay, my husband knew it by heart and recited it with the actor, and THEN I looked it up. :)

Natalie Murphy said...

Oh I love that quote! I haven't seen it in a while, so thank you for reminding me. I think I really needed that today.

Blooming Eventually said...

Thank you, Elana. You ARE awesome. :)

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