Words to Empower

When I first attended my first Kids Yoga Training there were many moments of awakening and inspiration but one of the greatest of these was hearing and absorbing Marianne Williamson’s poem “Let your Light Shine” while in Savasana.  I still get shivers or tears in my eyes each time I read this or hear it.

This poem really brings to my heart the true meaning and calling behind my pursuit of teaching kids yoga.

The stretching is good, the core strength is needed, but to me – empowering kids to be the most they can be is the most essential part of what it’s all about.

The challenge with this comes in living this yourself.

I don’t know about you but I was brought up to be modest.  Not to blow my own horn… Don’t brag about a good mark, especially as a girl – it was just not cool to be smart.

So each time I read this aloud to a group of youth or teens it’s also speaking to my heart, reminding me that it’s OK to feel good about who are are, to dream big, and be proud of what you have accomplished so far.

Here you go, read this, share it and live it!

Let your Light Shine

By Marianne Williamson

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 (or the world).
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 were born to make manifest the glory (of God) this is within us.
It’s just not just in some of us, its in everyone.
And when 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.

I invite you to use this poem with the kids in your life; in the classroom, yoga class and at home and most of all live by these principals yourself.

* A note about the parentheses – when teaching in schools – my goal is to impart the goodness of the program without offending sensibilities so I alter some of the words to speak to the world in general and not a religious preference.

Not it’s your turn…

In the space below share how this makes you feel and inspire us with other poems and readings that will help us empower others too!