Playing too small - are you holding back your creative potential?

Playing too small – are you holding back your creative potential?

self-limiting behavior,creative potential,personal growth books

T. Harv Eker, founder and president of personal development company Peak Potentials Training, comments in his book Secrets of the Millionaire Mind:

“What I have witnessed is too many people playing far too small, and too many people allowing their fear-based ego selves to rule them. The result is that too many of us are not living up to our full potential, in terms of both our own lives and our contribution to others.

“Your life is not just about you. It’s also about contributing to others. It’s about living true to your mission and reason for being here on this earth at this time.”

He quotes a passage by Marianne Williamson from her book A Return To Love:

“You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. 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’re liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

In her article Preparing For Performance, Linda Dessau talks about stage fright and anxiety that can “keep artists locked away in their own homes, carefully guarding their creative gifts. Then those gifts never see the light of day, and they’re never seen by the world…

“For some of us, simply facing our art form and giving voice to our creativity is a performance. For others, it might be meeting with an art gallery owner, a submission to a contest, fulfilling a commissioned piece of artwork for a customer or something else that brings up similar fears and self-doubt.”

Experiences that many talented people may have that can keep us “playing small” include introversion, low self-esteem and anxiety. All of which can be faced and improved so our talents can shine – and have a greater positive impact.

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07.22.06 |
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