Become Who You Were Born To Be

Nelson Mandela Quote
Here's the quote from Nelson Mandela that we discussed in class:
"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 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 were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us, it is in everyone. And as we let our 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."

I've actually used this quote a few times during the opportunities that I have had to teach church lessons, and give talks. It is very empowering. It inspires me to lift myself above this mortal coil and become something truly great. Words like these are what has motivated me to not stop with a BA in History but to move on to graduate school so that I may eventually teach at the university level. I am by nature a dreamer. I have hopes and aspirations that I am committing my life to realizing. My religious affiliation has given me a glimpse of my eternal possibility. Mandela gives me a sense of what is truly possible, here and now.