I really liked this poem “Our Deepest Fear” which was read by Nelson Mandela during his presidential inauguration speech in 1994.  I also particularly liked the rendition by this year’s South Africa’s Got Talent Botlahle, an 11 year old South African girl, who is a great poet.  Enjoy the poem itself, and Botlahle’s rendition.
==========

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, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a Child of God.
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.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
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.

Marianne Williamson – A return to love