“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’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 are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

This amazing quote, written by Marianne Williamson and frequently attributed to Nelson Mandela, has been a source of inspiration for me many more times that I can count. It’s been used in movies at pivotal moments, like Coach Carter and Akeelah and The Bee (both starring Samuel L. Jackson, so I think it’s personal for him).

And today, which happens to be Women’s International Day, I can’t help but share it again as a reminder to give ourselves permission to shine with our work and to never play it small. When we do the work we love and do it well, we inspire others to do the same. We need to own our successes and be proud of them and point at other women who are shining too.

I do acknowledge the privileges I have as a woman living in these times, where I live. And that there is blindness that comes with privilege. As a result, It’s my duty to get informed about the conscious and unconscious biases we still face as women, and to think and work for other women to have education and freedom of self-expression where they have none. I still have a long way to contribute. I admit that.

Today, as a starting point, I want to encourage you, dear reader, to think about where you might be hiding? Where you might be shying away from sharing your work? When are you minimizing your hard-earned success like it was nothing? When are you forgetting the care and attention you give to others every single day? Why are you waiting for a title to feel your worth?

Give yourself permission to shine now, and others, first and foremost your kids, will follow your lead.