Self-Doubt and Sandra Bullock
From time to time, we all doubt ourselves.Maybe our self-doubt is the dirty little secret we hold extra close for fear that someone will think less of us for not being perfect, or maybe it's the one thing we talk about the most just to manage other people's - and our own - expectations.Regardless, it seems that to be human is to wonder if we have what it takes to do what's needed to be done.The writer Marianne Williamson famously said:
“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 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'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.”
You are powerful beyond measure, my friend. It's just that sometimes you forget it.I recently saw the movie "Gravity", starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. I don't know what I expected - the promos for the film were vague and seemed to feature explosions in space. Not necessarily "my" kind of movie, but then a client raved about it, so I went. And I went big - 3D IMAX.And I'm extremely glad I did.While there were quite a few explosions in space, the movie is really about resilience. About stepping beyond your fear. About not knowing what the hell to do next but doing something.It's about courage. About love. About the will to live.Even when you might think you don't really have that much to live for.I left the movie feeling drained but inspired, and truly moved. Maybe even changed a little bit.Because I saw in Sandra Bullock's tough, unflinching, tender performance the entire gamut of human emotion when faced with a life-or-death kind of struggle. Of course, I asked myself, "Could I? Would I?"But then, I remembered... I am powerful beyond measure. I could, and I would, if I had to.It was pretty amazing - as Dr. Ryan Stone's light shone, mine began to shine, too. I became aware that while I might not always suceed against every adversity, I’d damn sure give it a good try.I'll bet you that there is something in your life right now that feels like a huge struggle. There's something you're avoiding, or doubting you can pull off. You're afraid - there are a lot of things that might or could happen.But, you are stronger than you know, and more resilient than you remember. You may not have the training, or every single tool you might need, or anyone to help you...but take one step toward a solution, then another, and one more, and you will find yourself on solid ground before you know it.Let your light shine. Today. Now. There is no better time to step up.