Overcoming "Our Deepest Fear"

I was watching the movie “Coach Carter” today and in it was the quote below (often mistakenly attributed to Nelson Mandela but actually from a motivational speech by Marianne Williamson from 1992)

Our Greatest Fear —Marianne Williamson

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's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

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.

—Marianne Williamson

I was struck by the fact that this is so applicable to those of us who occupy the less common arcs on the gender spectrum. So many of us are afraid to let others see us for who we are̶ fearful of what others might think of us and even in some cases not wanting to let who we are make others uncomfortable around us.

But there are those among our members who refuse to let those fears prevent them from being true to their inner core spirit. For some like Cloé, that can mean transitioning and sharing the story of that transition to help others who might be in similar circumstances. For others like April, it is showing by example that you can express your feminine side without shame or worry about society’s reaction. Still others like Samantha G and Leonara show us how̶ even if we for various reasons are unable to be out openly in the world as we might desire̶ we can still be a positive role model on CDH helping others to be all that they can be. And Let’s not forget our SO members like Kayla and Trisha who love and accept their partners because their love for them is more powerful and important than any approbation from a world that is not always kind to those who don’t toe the line of conformity.

I have the honor of serving on the ambassador team with the above members I have named but there are many other members who likewise exemplify the love and support that were the reasons Vanessa kept this site going after her transition and Codille helped grow the membership from a few hundred to tens of thousands of members-that others could come here to find camaraderie and support and a safe place to be themselves. While it has become a large group, it remains the individual friendships each member makes with others that provide the backbone of support and enable us to share in each other’s joys and help each other through the difficult times.

Thank you to the many of you who have helped me and allowed me the privilege of helping you in some small way. I hope to be able to follow the examples I mentioned above-overcoming my fears as I continue my journey of exploration and becoming whoever I am meant to be.

Hugs,
Cyn