Our Deepest Fears, a poem by Marianne Williamson has been quoted by many humanitarians including Nelson Mandela. In the film Akeelah and The Bee Akeelah Anderson (Keke Palmer) recites the poem at the request of for coach Dr. Joshua Larabee (Laurence Fishburne).
Akeelah And The Bee – Deepest Fear
Our Deepest Fear
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.- Marianne Williamson