Why so serious?

26Jul08

 

 

 

 

Theater in Glasgow, Scotland*

 

I just recently saw the Dark Knight at the movie theater with my dad. I loved it. I’ve been explaining it to my Mom which is kind of hard. Because it’s a scary movie but you can’t really put your finger on what kind of a scary. It’s not a horror, psychological thriller, or gut-spewing gore-filled film. I don’t know why, but it was scary, but I really want to see it again.

So lately, I’ve been analyzing myself and what kinds of things hold people back in their life. The number one issue people have is fear. They are afraid to work too hard for something they may not get. They are afraid of rejection, whether it be in a relationship or with a job. People allow fear to dictate their lives. And it is what’s holding back so many young people from reaching their full potential–their dreams. This is one of my favorite quotes about fear…I first heard it from the movie Akeelah and the Bee:

“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.”

Nelson Mandela also used it in one of his famous speeches.

This summer I’ve been trying to face my fears and honestly try to figure out why they are there and where they come from.  But when the focus is taken off of myself, I realize that fear can actually be quite selfish. “Your playing small does not serve the world.” By not reaching out, speaking up, embracing others, or giving my all in everything (even if the goal is pretty intangible) because of fear of rejection, I am not serving others or the world. I am not fufilling my purpse in life by limiting myself.

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