Play Big or Stay Home

I've been thinking the past few days about a quote I read a while back:

"Your playing small does not serve the world" by Marianne Williamson and was quoted by Nelson Mandela's inaugural speech.

What does this really mean? In what ways I play small? When do I shrink back when I could be going forward?

It's an interesting question to ponder. I think sometimes it's really easy to hold back a "Hello," a compliment or even a smile. It is easier to stay in my own head, to think my own thoughts. It is easier to think they aren't noticing anyway, so why bother? It is easier to sometimes to say home inside myself.

Playing "big" requires faith. Faith that you're usually guided towards good, faith that you can't really fail because there is always another opportunity. Faith that you're really ok, always have been and always will be.

One of the things I'm focusing on right now is to "play big." It doesn't really require a lot of effort, more about awareness. I have to be aware of when I'm repressing a "hello" or repressing an idea, and instead of holding it in, I need to let it out; give it life. After all, there is a really big world outside my head, I think it's time to experience it!

What about you?