How true those words and yet how many of us are greatly affected by the opinions of others.  Of course everyone has a right to their opinion but we have a choice to ignore or allow other’s opinions to hurt us.  Allowing the opinions of others to impact on our life, on how we live or go about our business, results in trying to please everyone all of the time – something that is inevitably unsustainable.  Living this way makes us fearful and small and takes no account of our own hopes, desires and goals. 

Recently I experienced this with an intensity that surprised and concerned me.  Hearing an opinion someone held about me and what I do made me catch my breath, step back and reflect.  My first emotion was one of hurt and then I experienced anger, quickly followed by righteous indignation.  How dare they?  What gives them the right? Who are they to say such a thing and on and on the argument with myself continued. 

But did this change their opinion? Of course not but I had a choice…..ignore or allow their opinion to curtail who I am and what I do.

And then I remembered a beautiful poem by Marianne Williamson “Our deepest Fear” and I knew that out of respect for myself I had to choose to let my light shine – I hope you will too………..

“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’s 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’re liberated from our own fear,

Our presence automatically liberates others”.