“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.”
| “Man’s goodness is a flame that can be hidden but never extinguished.” – Nelson Mandela. 1994. Long Walk to Freedom |
And a personal favourite,”Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” – Nelson Mandela (1918-2013)
It takes courage to face our fears. We may push our fears down, decide that they are insignificant in a world filled with distressing and disturbing events. Our ego may call to us to stop looking for the reasons beneath our fear in our struggle to find our own peace. Listen carefully and we will hear the whisper of our Higher self ‘en..couraging’ us to unearth and conquer our fears. Nelson Mandela overcame his fears, of that I am sure, and he can be a guiding light to lead us to uncover ours.
Nelson chose Marianne Williamson’s words for his inaugural speech. Please read them and own them as your own,
“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 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.”