“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.”
This quote has found its way into Nelson Mandela's 1994 Inaugural address, the Akeelah and the Bee movie, and countless blogs. It was originally written penned by Marianne Williamson in A Return to Love
There are days when leaders may feel themselves shrinking as the thought suggests, but there are other days when they feel just plain inadequate--no shrinking, no fear of greatness, just frustration at not being what they know they can be. I know I fit in this picture at times. I have accomplished some exciting things in my life, I have some amazing friends and associates, I am well traveled..., well you get the picture. But I believe this is all so very relative to what is really important. Some of the greatest people I have known are barely literate, or have had to work as a maid in a foreign country to keep her family fed at home, or have sacrificed their life for their child. They know the secret of overcoming this fear of success or the fear of failure is humility. We all know the celeb names--and nothing against them, but I hope we can also celebrate the quiet champions of greatness that overcome the world everyday in their unique ways.
The companion thought to Williamson's words of counsel might be Kazuro Okakura's observation:
Those who cannot feel the littleness of great things in themselves are apt to overlook the greatness of little things in others.So when we are trying to let our light shine for the right reason-- to liberate others, let's not forget that our light is merely a reflection of a higher light--not of our making and that we should celebrate the light of others--knowing its true source.
Humility does not mean thinking less of yourself than of other people, nor does it mean having a low opinion of your own gifts. It means freedom from thinking about yourself at all. ~William Temple In releasing ourselves from that self thinking, we are able to give the one thing we can truely give. With humility comes the secret of all successful leaders: meekness. Consulting Webster’s New World Dictionary of the American Language, 2nd College Edition, we find that the word "meek" can be defined as being pliant or gentle. It can also be defined as: being too submissive; easily imposed upon; spineless; spiritless. spinelessness - the quality of lacking a strong character; an irresolute disposition. Obviously not qualities of good leaders. A more exacting definition of meekness is provided by Harold B. Lee, business and religious leader:
A meek man is defined as one who is not easily provoked or irritated and forbearing under injury or annoyance. Meekness is not synonymous with weakness. The meek man is the strong, the mighty, the man of complete self-mastery. He is the one who has the courage of his moral convictions, despite pressure. In controversy his judgment is the court of last resort, and his sobered counsel quells the rashness of the mob. He is humble minded; he does not bluster. He is a natural leader and is the chosen of army and navy, business and church to lead where other men follow. He is the ‘salt’ of the earth and shall inherit it.
All the leadership virtues trumpeted in the many books, courses, websites, and presentations depend on meekness for their accomplishment. Meekness is often the initiator, facilitator, and consolidator of what makes leaders great.
That is how to let our leadership light shine, show greatness by being humble and teachable.
