Playing a Bigger Game

"How many of you think you'll do something great in your lifetime?" asked Father Manuel of our social psychology class. Only one student raised her hand. Father Manuel seemed shocked: thirty students at a fairly prestigious university and only one student raises her hand? His question, one I'd never asked myself, awakened something in me. Over the years, his question really hasn't left me... rather it has continued to stir in me the realization that, deep inside, I do want to be up to something big. And this "big" thing seems to be in the realm of people living their best lives. Joyous lives. Vibrant lives. And I'm wondering, can you live a joyous life if you consistently stay within your comfort zone? Can you live a fulfilled life when you play small? Doesn’t living joyously require some risk-taking? You probably have friends who, despite the economic conditions, are content with living the status quo, without feeling the need to stretch themselves too much personally or professionally; having little enthusiasm for “braving the dangers” of leaving their comfort zone. (And trust me, I’ve been there!) But there is a difference between contentment and joy. And joy requires a fuller commitment of the heart and soul. It requires passion. For that reason, accessing a deep joy requires some aspect of risk. Passion is risky. Cynthia Heimel writes, "When in doubt, make a fool of yourself. There is a microscopically thin line between being brilliantly creative and acting like the most gigantic idiot on earth. So what the hell, leap." Who knows on which side of the line you'll land? And what if it's on the side of brilliance? One of my favorite quotes is likely familiar to you, but I hope, like me, each time you read it, you are reminded of its truth. “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 does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure about you. We were born to 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.” ~Marianne Williamson rnOur world is changing so rapidly these days, it feels so important for us to stretch ourselves, to live full-out, to share our light, brightening our part of the world as we were meant to. Now is not the time for us to be playing small. What is the something big you’d like to create in your lifetime? What is it you’d like to be or do? How would you like to begin? Blessings,rnShawn Let me know what you’re thinking! I love to hear from you, and I read every email personally, even when I can't reply to all of them. Send your thoughts to shawn@joyouslifeworks.com or visit my blog: www.vibrantlyalivewomen.com. Please feel free to pass it on or to reprint this article on your website or in your own ezine. All I ask is that you forward the article in its entirety and/or that you include the following paragraph and copyright line with live link if you reprint the article. This article originally appeared in the Joyous Life ezine and is reprinted with permission from the author. Shawn Murphey is owner of Joyous LifeWorks. Copyright © 2009, Shawn Murphey. All rights reserved.