Comments on: On Generosity

By: Colin David Reese

Colin David Reese — Wed, 26 May 2010 12:52:16 +0000

“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. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are 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 above speech has been attributed to Nelson Mandela but was written by Marianne Williamson who is the author of other similar material.

By: Colin David Reese

Colin David Reese — Wed, 26 May 2010 07:52:16 +0000

By: Jerry

Jerry — Thu, 20 May 2010 04:08:55 +0000

Self pity is very destructive, as is being too hard on yourself. Everyone will go through these things in life, some never get out of it. If someone does, they will have things to say about it, but to what audience? Those with similar experiences can relate, but those without can not, neither can those too scared to look. If someone is no good to themselves, they will be no good to anyone else either, especially those depending on them.
I was told something very powerful, "Your audience will feel whatever you feel". Remember that anytime you pick up a pen, and of corse you won't always, which is the spice of life!

By: Renee Thompson

Renee Thompson — Thu, 20 May 2010 02:51:08 +0000

Dani, as you mentioned, it's indeed a challenge for most of us to conjure a bit of generosity toward ourselves, and sometimes even more difficult to find anything decent to say about one another. It's as if there is only so much success to go around, and if we lavish other writers with compliments, we're using up the pot. It's taken me a long time to understand that where there is one compliment, there can be others, and I can give them or receive them, and there will still be ten million left. So allow me to say great essay, Dani -- and thank you for the reminder to be kind.

By: Dani Shapiro

Dani Shapiro — Wed, 19 May 2010 21:38:35 +0000

Hey, Sandy. This is lovely and I find myself nodding here. And also wanting to watch "Elephant Man" again. The whole (particularly Jewish? not sure... I think a lot of Catholics would chime in here) idea that feeling generous to the self could be construed as selfishness... that says so much, doesn't it? Thanks for writing this.

By: Dani Shapiro

Dani Shapiro — Wed, 19 May 2010 21:36:02 +0000

I'm with you on the elevation of snark. I hope, as a culture, that we're slowly moving away from it -- snark has been around for a good long while and the pendulum is (hopefully) swinging...

By: Dani Shapiro

Dani Shapiro — Wed, 19 May 2010 21:34:38 +0000

Good to hear that, Ann. Also, as I tell my son, you can start your day over at any time. As many times as you need to. So it can always be morning, and a fresh slate, in a sense. Thanks for writing.

By: Dani Shapiro

Dani Shapiro — Wed, 19 May 2010 21:33:45 +0000

Fair enough, Jerry, but I think the difference between "open-minded" and "generous" can be viewed as largely semantic. At least I view it that way. When I say generous I don't mean without discernment.

By: Dani Shapiro

Dani Shapiro — Wed, 19 May 2010 21:32:32 +0000

Not a bad idea to have some tee shirts made up -- or even just index cards: generosity of spirit. Thanks.

By: Dani Shapiro

Dani Shapiro — Wed, 19 May 2010 21:31:23 +0000

GG--I'm so happy to see a comment from my old dear friend here on my blog--and of course your voice comes shining through so clearly. I hope those nasty judging doubting voices have mellowed a bit. I had a full load too -- still do on many days -- but have tried and tried over the years to quiet them down, if not silence them.