12 Things You Can Do Right Now to Shine Your Light to the World

"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 tornbe brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child ofr
God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking sornthat other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. Wernwere born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's inrneveryone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission torndo the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

- An excerpt from the book, A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles by Marianne Williamson
These powerful words were part of Nelson Mandela's inaugural speech. When I heard them, Irnwas unaware of the impact they would have on me. It was only years later that I realized the deep
effects of those words. They liberated me to see that I am light. They freed me and made mernwant to be all that I can be.

In my family, we have enthusiasm and self-esteem in our DNA. I grew up believing that, as arnwoman, I had to love myself and treat myself well. I am very happy and grateful to have been
raised in such an environment, but when the time came for me to venture out into the world, I had
to face the fact that not everyone loved how I looked. I had to deal with the reality that people
would judge me before even knowing who I was.

I learned to love the ski
I'm in, despite what others thought. Here are some of the words I live by.
These words remind me that I have a light inside that deserves to shine bright; that I must value
me and seek the best for myself. I hope they can do the same for you.

1. Know that you are loved. Know that you are a Divine child, and you have a purpose here
on this planet.
2. Your size is not a factor in that. Your size does not take away your gift, your intelligence or your humour.
3. Seek friends of all sizes who love you for you.
4. Don't wait until you are a certain weight to live your life. I know what it is to struggle to bernthin and, let me tell you, life is far too short to sit around waiting for the scale to change
before you do something you always wanted to do.
5. Don't think that you are worthless.
6. Self-affirm everyday. Tell yourself a positive affirmation. Be kind to you.
7. Do some form of physical activity.
8. Get spiritual. It doesn't matter what road you follow, who you pray to, or how you pray,
but start to get connected to that inner self.
9. Think like you are dead. It may seem weird, or even morbid (I guess my love of horror
movies is showing), but imagine that you reached 99 years of age and then died. You are
at your funeral. What are people saying about you? Do you like what they are saying?
What things you have done? What are you being remembered for?
10. Never settle on love. Never be with someone just so you can say you have a man in your
life.
11. Love yourself first. My grandmother always told me that a woman must first learn to love
herself before she can love a man. I fully believe this.
12 Be kind to you.

You will be amazed at just following some or all or these tips - how your internal light - your internal love and your internal joy will increase.

It will be a wonderful gift to yourself and intu
to your world around you.