Motivation, Schmotivation...
Mar. 15th, 2007 11:46 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
snoweeI'd really enjoy a little bit of a discussion on this topic if anyone is interested.
I am not interested in motivational speakers. Inspirational posters do little for me. I find in most cases that "they" have me all wrong anyway.
Still, I am constantly recommended and even pushed to attend these seminars, etc. I've been invited to another and in the email invitation forwarded to me was a quote that really made me want to speak out. There is a reference to God here. I have very carefully never said whether or not I believe in God(s) and I won't here, but be warned.
Read it first, then below I break it down for my own personal commentary.
Marianne Williamson("Return to Love").
"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 is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same."
"We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
I don't actually ask myself this. I know it to be true, but I also know that whether I keep it to myself or tout it from a horn it's still true. I have no desire to be the center of attention.
Actually, who are you not to be?
There is a bit in a moment where she says, more or less, that everyone is special. I agree, but no one is MORE special than anyone else.
You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world.
What happened to the meak shall inherit the earth? -for those raised religiously. Besides, let me tell you, it takes a lot more strength to shut your mouth and listen to other people than to be the one with it hanging open all the time.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
Who says that's what any of us are doing? Perhaps some timid people are that way. Perhaps some of us "shrink" because we are listening and learning about others so that we may write more interesting characters or because we are genuinely interested in opposing viewpoints. This has always been true for me. If you don't shut up, you won't understand "them".
I remember that I loved going with my grandparents to the mall every other week when I was a pre-teen not because of them (I mean, I loved them and it was great to know them) but because of the opportunities to people-watch... to see how people reacted with them as opposed to how they were when I was with my parents, my friends, or with other old people. (For those who don't know, they were English, strong accents and it's funny. People were on better behaviour around them than other older people I've seen...I account it to their accents, but I don't really know.) Anyway, I digress...
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
Taken too far there IS something wrong with shining too much. It's an excuse to be conceited and to discount the feelings and opinions of those around you.
And don't bring up children. The way young children are is the reason I didn't want kids. It is the thing that annoys me most about my child right now. In the words of Voice of the Beehive "The earth is drying, planets are dying. Everybody's saying 'Yeah, I know, but look at me!'" Kids are extremely demanding about their light and I do believe it's part of the growth process to let it shine, but it's also part of the growth process to LET others shine.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
Let's take God out of this and say that what we think about ourselves is what we represent or something like that. Who are you to say that I MUST be "shining my light" in order to be a star? I am a kind, open-minded, friendly person. Without being an outgoing, loud person people seem to get that. Maybe a quiet but accepting person is what I want to present to the world. There is nothing unmotivated or uninspirational about that. It does not automatically mean I have poor self-esteem or that I do not believe in myself. I believe that this is the purpose I was given.
It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same."
Personally, I think it takes away from other people's lights to be shining ourselves out of our asses, but that's just me.
I have worked very hard to get where I am and I am definitely a work in progress. I sought approval from others for YEARS. I am past that now, but not past some of the habits I acquired during that time (I'm sorry)...
I know that I am a good writer and that I'm pretty. I don't expect everyone to see that. If we all shined equally, we'd all be dull!
Besides, look at those who "shine". They're usually so vapid you couldn't carry on a dinner conversation with them!
I am not interested in motivational speakers. Inspirational posters do little for me. I find in most cases that "they" have me all wrong anyway.
Still, I am constantly recommended and even pushed to attend these seminars, etc. I've been invited to another and in the email invitation forwarded to me was a quote that really made me want to speak out. There is a reference to God here. I have very carefully never said whether or not I believe in God(s) and I won't here, but be warned.
Read it first, then below I break it down for my own personal commentary.
Marianne Williamson("Return to Love").
"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 is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same."
"We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
I don't actually ask myself this. I know it to be true, but I also know that whether I keep it to myself or tout it from a horn it's still true. I have no desire to be the center of attention.
Actually, who are you not to be?
There is a bit in a moment where she says, more or less, that everyone is special. I agree, but no one is MORE special than anyone else.
You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world.
What happened to the meak shall inherit the earth? -for those raised religiously. Besides, let me tell you, it takes a lot more strength to shut your mouth and listen to other people than to be the one with it hanging open all the time.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
Who says that's what any of us are doing? Perhaps some timid people are that way. Perhaps some of us "shrink" because we are listening and learning about others so that we may write more interesting characters or because we are genuinely interested in opposing viewpoints. This has always been true for me. If you don't shut up, you won't understand "them".
I remember that I loved going with my grandparents to the mall every other week when I was a pre-teen not because of them (I mean, I loved them and it was great to know them) but because of the opportunities to people-watch... to see how people reacted with them as opposed to how they were when I was with my parents, my friends, or with other old people. (For those who don't know, they were English, strong accents and it's funny. People were on better behaviour around them than other older people I've seen...I account it to their accents, but I don't really know.) Anyway, I digress...
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
Taken too far there IS something wrong with shining too much. It's an excuse to be conceited and to discount the feelings and opinions of those around you.
And don't bring up children. The way young children are is the reason I didn't want kids. It is the thing that annoys me most about my child right now. In the words of Voice of the Beehive "The earth is drying, planets are dying. Everybody's saying 'Yeah, I know, but look at me!'" Kids are extremely demanding about their light and I do believe it's part of the growth process to let it shine, but it's also part of the growth process to LET others shine.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
Let's take God out of this and say that what we think about ourselves is what we represent or something like that. Who are you to say that I MUST be "shining my light" in order to be a star? I am a kind, open-minded, friendly person. Without being an outgoing, loud person people seem to get that. Maybe a quiet but accepting person is what I want to present to the world. There is nothing unmotivated or uninspirational about that. It does not automatically mean I have poor self-esteem or that I do not believe in myself. I believe that this is the purpose I was given.
It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same."
Personally, I think it takes away from other people's lights to be shining ourselves out of our asses, but that's just me.
I have worked very hard to get where I am and I am definitely a work in progress. I sought approval from others for YEARS. I am past that now, but not past some of the habits I acquired during that time (I'm sorry)...
I know that I am a good writer and that I'm pretty. I don't expect everyone to see that. If we all shined equally, we'd all be dull!
Besides, look at those who "shine". They're usually so vapid you couldn't carry on a dinner conversation with them!
