Who am I?

I’ve been teaching private meditation classes to a couple at the local studio where I teach yoga. After our first class I asked them to tell me something about themselves. The man had an interesting answer. He said, “I travel three or four days a week. I’m a psychiatrist and a comedy writer.” He went on to say his busy lifestyle resulted in a lot of stress and that was why he wanted to try meditation.

So the next class I decided to lead a guided meditation called, “Who am I?” It’s about moving beyond your everyday identity of parent, spouse, career/job identity, etc., stripping yourself of all those self-images and identities that others give you. It’s about removing  your mask and connecting with your deeper self…your true self.

You never know what people are going to take from something like that. I didn’t ask. It was their meditation, and it also sometimes helps to allow time for that type of meditation to take hold. If nothing else, the guy might’ve gotten shtick for a new comedy routine!

So this morning the first thing I noticed on Facebook was a post of a quote and illustration from three years ago that Facebook suggested that I re-post. After reading it, I realized it was a synchro for me, fitting with the meditation I’d done the evening before.

Here’s the quote:

“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

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Earlier, the quote was attributed to Nelson Mandela, but it actually appeared in a book by Marianne Williamson. Doesn’t matter. The sentiment remains the same.