I remember when I first heard this poem. I was sitting watching a movie some of you may have heard of called 'Coach Carter'. In the film, a coach is determined to develop the character and education of the team as well as their basketball skills and faces opposition from the players and the parents. Just when you lose all hope for one of the characters, he turns around and recites this poem, 'Our deepest fear'. Since then this poem has been a sort of national anthem or a 'self anthem'. This poem is a good reminder for me - of what achievements can be made if I don't shrink back. We can instinctively place a ceiling on ourselves and tell ourselves that we can't achieve what we have set to accomplish. Hey, if you have never swam in the ocean the fear of what is out there can easily consume you. The unknown is many people's worst nightmare.
I love the line that reads 'Your playing small does not serve the world.' For the longest time, I have always wanted to be hidden afraid of what light I may possess. We all want to be earning millions, but can we handle the responsibility of it? So I laid low - often doing the bare minimum - concealing whatever was in me. But as I re-read this poem I realise not only do I do myself an injustice, but others around me. When we step out of our comfort zone and allow what is in us to shine through, we give that same freedom to others.
