A Hedge Against Discouragement

My husband and I are in the throes of a major house renovation project. The project has sucked my time and sucked my desire to write. Needless to say, I am discouraged and feel like giving up on writing. But something inside me nudges me from time to time and won't let me quit. There are scores of novels inside me, begging to be written. When I stumbled onto this quote below, it gave me the encouragement I needed. Even if I write but a page a week while I'm in the midst of this remodeling project, I will continue to write.

I wanted to share my encouragement with you in case you are having some discouraging moments and need a boost.

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 is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not 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 others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. (Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love)

This quote is often attributed to Nelson Mandela, but was written by Williamson. I mean, really, can you see Mandela saying, "brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous" in an inaugural address?