Gladys Agwai
Take the Shade Off of Your Light!

“Always let your inner light shine. By doing so, you not only light a path for yourself, but also light a way for others.” Donald L. Hicks
One of your greatest fears is your fear of being visible hiding your true self. You may view being visible as becoming too much or attracting unwanted attention. You may fear rejection or not being accepted by others. Has society convinced you that fitting in is the safest path? You put a shade over your light to make it convenient for others allowing them to shine while your light is dimmed. Both lights can shine bright!
Having something for yourself does not mean you have to take from someone else. There is enough in the universe for everyone. But you have put a shade over your light so often that you now believe it is like a hat wearing it every time you go out as if it is a complementary accessory.
“This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine” is a popular gospel song from my youth that I love to this day. Light is energy and everyone has their own energy unique to them. Your light resonates from within you and the is light felt and seen by others when you interact. Before you even speak, your inner light is communicating with the light from others. Remember your light is energy and your light is felt even when you choose to dim it. Light allows things to grow and allows us to see. Light is life itself! The experience of your light can bring to you and other people feelings of security or insecurity. Fear of rejection by others can be a trigger when you are threatened by the exposure of your light, or the light of others are too bright. To allow your inner light to shine at its brightest and your light not be hidden, you must:
• Accept and recognize that your inner light is real and waiting on you to discover, unleash, take ownership, and leverage it. You must bring it out of hiding to understand the blessing of your unique gifts to the world and how to use them in a way that brings you fulfilment and sustained joy.
• Provide a safe space for your inner light to be released and nurtured. This helps you become more confident and intentional for your inner peace and the peace of others. Let go of your fears of exposure and stand in your power
• Be relaxed and in the present moment to feel and be in touch with your inner being. You do this through prayer, meditation, breathing, or experiencing nature. Always moving at lightning speed will keep the shade over your light leaving you disconnected.
• Practice seeing opportunities for growth to express your light, true self, and being. Removing the shade from your light can at times be effortless. However, other times you must be intentional when removing the shade. Be guided by your light and not your stress.
Be careful of those who have not found, nurtured, or accepted their light. They may want to extinguish, contain, and push your light out of sight. Have you experienced in your moments of shining your light bright that someone threw darkness on your light? How have you defined yourself by that experience? These experiences can come from spouses, family and friends, clients, co-workers, managers, and leaders. Remember the words of Marianne Williamson noted below in her poem, “Our Deepest Fear.” Is your deepest fear your light or power? Do you fear not being accepted by others? Is that why you have put a shade over your light?
Remove the shade and do not allow yourself or others to dim your light! Become fearless and shine bright to be your true and authentic self to align with your core being! This will bring you and others peace, fullfilment, and joy! OUR DEEPEST FEAR by Marianne Williamson "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear in 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? Who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the World.
There is nothing enlightening about shrinking So that other people will not feel unsure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. As we let our own Light shine, We consciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, Our presence automatically liberates others."
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