Last week, I talked about shadows. Your shadows are those parts of yourself you have deemed unacceptable. Your shadow, your dark side or repressed part, contains all the parts of yourself that you resist, dislike, or try to hide. You often deny these parts of yourself. You have probably made it mean there was something wrong with you if you have these qualities.

 

That is for both your greatness and your weaknesses.  

 

So this week, I’ll share how you can be hiding your greatness and how to bring it to life.

 

It works the same way. Somewhere along the way, you made it wrong to have “that quality.”

 

You might not have wanted to disappoint people. So you gave up and didn’t follow your heart or your desires.

You might have wanted to fit in.

You didn’t want to be noticed.

You might not have wanted to be “better” than somebody else – in school, at soccer, successful, etc. So you played small, hid your talents, fit in, lost your zest or identity.

 

Whatever you identify yourself with you tend to become – average, not good in math, not spiritual to have money.

 

There’s a shadow lurking…

 

Most people have learned to hide their greatness in some form. Think of this like the sun. The sun is always in the sky. Sometimes the clouds are covering or hiding the light.

 

This is the same for you if you have made your dreams, talents or desires wrong. They might be covered up waiting for you to live them.

 

Did somebody tell you to tame down your excitement, to not “brag”, or keep to yourself about those special abilities you have?

 

Most of us have had the air taken out of our balloon along the way.

 

Like what do you call a woman who speaks up? “A bitch?” “Arrogant?”

 

No more, with the “Me, Too” movement.

 

I know many people who have artistic abilities have been told they can’t earn a living doing “that.”

 

These are the type of words you might have heard that would suppress your gifts or talents. If you feel some guilt, shame or like something is wrong with you. They are all hints you have shadow work to do to FREE yourself so you can embrace your gifts.

 

Marianne Williamson’s quote is so helpful to live your light.

 

“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.”

 

The spiritual journey is to lift the veil of darkness that your life’s experiences have created.

 

As the Course of Miracles says in lesson 69, “My grievances hide the light of the world to me. I cannot see what I’ve hidden. Yet, I want to let it be revealed to me, for my salvation and the salvation of the world.”

 

Where are you hiding, running from or denying your greatness? What is wanting to come out?

 

How Can You Shed Light on Your Greatness Rather Than Play Small?

 

Once you can embrace both your darkness and light, you will no longer be held back from the greatness of you and the life you are meant to live.

 

Start here. Think of 3 people you admire, present, past or historical.   Write their names down. Under each name, write down 3 qualities you admire in each of them. So you will have 9 qualities. Some could be the same.

 

Like I would choose Oprah, Wayne Dyer and Marianne Williamson. They all are top thought leaders, great motivational people. They’re an inspiration. They’ve opened the doors for others to find their gifts or voices.

 

Then, ask yourself, can you see those qualities in yourself? These qualities are reflecting back something important to you, your journey. If you can’t see them, they are covered up. Remember, like the sun and clouds, they are there. Somebody or something along the way told you something that made you believe it wasn’t right – like in my case to speak up, not upset people. So they stay stuffed but really are part of your nature, your being.

 

So now, choose 2 of those qualities that could really help bring out the light of your dreams, gifts or passions. Mine would be confidence and authenticity.

 

Next, write out the action you plan to take to start building the skills or strategies you need to brighten your light. To own your light. To stand in your light.

 

Take time to do this. Embrace Your Gifts By Revealing Your Light. And, finally, you will be on your way to living the life you were given to live.

 

Your peace and joy depend upon you freeing yourself from the shadows that hold you back.

 

I’d love to hear from you. What were the qualities revealed to you by finding people you admire? Can you see that you have them – or are they too hidden right now? Are you ready and willing to release the holds and start living your truth? Share with me at dottie@dottiehager.com.