26 February, 2007

Nelson Mandela / Coach Carter

Last year, I saw the movie "Coach Carter". In it was a quote that I thought was profound and motivating. I conducted some research and found that It was said by Nelson Mandela at a presidential inaugural speech.

Something deep down inside said that I should look at the quote again.. When I read it... I get angry. I get angry because I question if I did the best in all that I have done in life...time to wake up and to not be afraid.

After reading it, I feel bold, I am compelled to do my best and to disregard the opinions of others. Doing your best is infectious and is how we get better as a people. I hope it does something for you...do not be afraid.

~ Randolf

"
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.
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.
It is not just in some of us; it is 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.

"

8 comments:

  1. Thank you for this post. I can relate to your feeling, as I sit here wasting my hours sitting in the office at work. Reading this quote gives me the goose bumps, as I realize how powerful and great we were all meant to be, yet we constantly get comfortable being mediocre. I find that we let the world stop us from being who we know we are supposed to be. WE LET IT HAPPEN. WE CHOSE OUR LIVES. WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYTHING IN OUR LIFE. WE NEED TO MAN UP AND TAKE THE DRIVER SEAT IN LIFE!

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    1. Charlie, I read your post from 4 years ago. It's now 2012 and I feel every bit the same way you once did. I've read the above quote and watched the movie many times and I still get goose bumps. I too am wasting my hours and talents in the office and I was curious if you ever decided to "let your light shine" and change your life for the better as I'm inspired to do the same.

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  2. Thanks, your message prompted me to review the quote again. It serves as a simple reminder to do your best and to not settle for mediocrity. Reviewing the words again came at a perfect time for me - thanks.

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  3. Myself, i try to live by this words everyday but i realize that if there were only light we would be blinded and would only see darkness. or if there was only light we would finally try to find darkness so we wont be the same as all are. but still i think that those words shoul be considerd to be put in even the bible. i respect mandela very much, and south africa even more.

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  4. Nelson Mandela is a inspiring guy. Also a great figure of change. He fought for rights of a lot of people. I think that the most important people in the world are those whom inspire people to change.

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  5. Your blog rocks! Nelson Mandela is a inspiring guy. Also a great figure of change. He fought for rights of a lot of people. Take care!

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  6. I appreciate your idea here. Definitely it has a good content.

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  7. This is not a Nelson Mandela quote. It is by Marianna Williamson, erroneously attributed to Nelson Mandela. You may search the internet and find this respectfully reported as a fact.

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