Many of you have probably seen the piece below.  It has often been attributed to Nelson Mandela.  However, after some research it appears that it was actually written by Marianne Williamson.  I'm otherwise not familiar with Ms. Williamson, but, I have heard her described as a "New Age" guru.  There does not appear to be any credible evidence that Mandela ever publicly quoted the passage.  Despite my usual aversion to anything "new age" I have found it to be a very valuable aphorism.  If you have not read this piece before I hope that you will find it as powerful and useful as I have.  

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 and 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 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.

Marianne Williamson from her book, "A Return to Love," p. 165

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