"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 doesn't serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you."
Life-Happens likes that quote, and I find it very powerful too. How does this happen, that we shrink our enormous in-born capabilities?
I'd like to offer one theory as to why so many people "shrink" themselves, turning mediocrity into quite the norm. Just one theory, mind you. It's a great quote, so it can be taken is so many wonderful directions.
To live in a civilized world, there have to be rules. Let's take the god-forsaken public school system, for example. The most universal rules (some enforced, others implied) are: Sit down, listen to the teacher, be orderly. If you have something creative or insightful to say, you'll have to wait until the subject comes up, and even then, you'll have to wait until it's your turn to speak. So unwittingly, children are taught to shrink. Shy or troubled children can really get lost in a system like that.
Great harm is done by muting children's creative voices. It takes a great teacher who can bring out the best in a child, and encourage their strengths, and guide them toward a future of fulfilling productivity & contribution. Furthermore, switching teachers every year in the public school system can really hamper a child's growth, and a child might "shrink" if they're not among the strongest ones out there. Not everyone is strong enough to be tossed around, disregarded , and passed off, and still be expected to come out at 100% of their potential."
