“Who Are We Not To Be Great?”

Posted by Pam Thomas on August 24, 2007 8:40 AM PDT

Recommend this? YES NO

I believe it was Marianne Williamson who asked that powerful question. Regardless of who asked it, who are we not to be great?

We all deserve to step into our greatness. When we do we are able to celebrate our positives and acknowledge our negatives... only to learn from them. By not stepping into our greatness we give way to settling for less than we deserve. We allow our self-doubters to take over.

Keeping with the theme…

Who are we not to have a voice and share our truths without fear of judgment?

Everyone deserves to have a voice and share what is in their heart; by doing so we become active contributors, educators, and empowered people.

In not sharing we miss out on opportunities for growth and learning. We risk our integrity and make ourselves wrong for having a differing opinion or thought.

Who are we not to believe?

When we believe in ourselves and our abilities we are apt to take action and be active participants in our own lives. When we do not believe, we sit on the sidelines watching life and opportunities pass us by.

So let me ask you, who are YOU not to be great? What will you do today to step into your own greatness?

Stepping into greatness and/or sharing greatness is a personal choice. I can either choose to be a doer or sit on the sidelines and watch life pass me by.

Add To:

If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to our newsletter and we'll keep you updated with fresh new content.

2 Comments

Hey Pam-

I think that most women have issues with deserving. We apologize when we have every right. We make excuses for others. It's difficult to ask for what we need or deserve or have earned and I'm wondering why.

Is it because we're reared and geared that way? Is it because we live in a male-dominated world? How can a woman in a developing country believe in herself if she's never had the opportunity to work on her abilities?

Most women settle for less than they deserve, what can be done about it?

Posted by Amanda on September 10, 2007 1:59 AM PDT

Hi Amanda,

Great questions -- very thought provoking. Thanks so much! ( I love the word, by the way.)

I am sure anyone who feels undeserving could share many reasons as to why they feel/felt undeserving. I know I could list a few myself. For me, personally, it is not so much the why as it is the awareness of the feeling and wanting to change that feeling.

When it comes to settling for less, there are a few things that I have found helpful:

1) Again awareness is critical. If I am aware I am settling for less than I deserve I can then choose my next step.
2) Reaching out for support, having someone hold me accountable when I am settling for less.
3) Flexing that "I am more than enough" muscle. The more I use it the stronger it gets and the less likely I am to settle for less. I won't lie, this takes a bit of practice and I am still working on this one a bit.

What about you all, what do you do to combat settling for less?