As a young person, I remember the phrase “has been” being used more frequently than in today’s vernacular. The phrase felt full of judgement and condemnation. It implied that once you were someone and now you were a “has been.” Like you had something wonderful, and you blew it – wasted it, let it go.
I wonder how many of us feel like “has-beens.” How many of us feel like deep inside of us there is something fantastic and grand but for a variety of reasons, we have not shared this greatness with the world. Whatever those reasons may be, the greatest reason is our fear to be great! It is a fear deep within us that we are not good enough, smart enough or courageous enough to share.
One of my favorite poems by Marianne Williams titled our Deepest Fear:
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’s 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’re liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.
The source is Return to Love by Marianne Williamson, Harper Collins, 1992.
It takes courage to dig deep inside yourself and discover, unlock, and pull out that gift that you have been given to share with the world. Think about those things that you love to do. Those things that you love to share and that you lose track of time doing. Imagine what our world would look like if you could find the courage to share that? What would you look like and how would you feel if you would just enable yourself to live in this place?
Don’t turn your back on who you are and your gifts. Take a deep breath, dig deep and begin to share them today!
If you want to read other encouraging stories, please try my book Seeing the Extraordinary in the Ordinary.
hdurenberger 
Having the courage to share our talents is difficult, but so worth it. Love the poem you shared. I think I will use it for a Toastmaster meeting. There is a project for reading a poem, and this would work great. Thanks for sharing.
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