Let Your Light Shine

Last week, I shared a story about my father’s spirit visiting me a few hours before he passed away. One of the messages he came to impart was that I shouldn’t be afraid to let my light shine. The truth is, we are all beings of boundless light. None of us are limited to our physical forms that can be seen and touched—forms that most of us relentlessly compare to other physical forms, as well as to our conditioned ideals of perfection. In this world, it’s all too easy to let self-consciousness and insecurity shut us down and keep us small.

Today, in celebration of having the courage to let our light shine brightly, I’m sharing a poem called “Self-Doubt” by a talented poet, Alice Tao. Alice bravely overcame her own self-doubt to publish her first book of poetry—My River gently flows—at the beautifully-ripe age of 88. I had the great pleasure of being in the audience the first time Alice read her poetry in public. It was in July of 2015, the year she turned eighty, and I was mesmerized the entire time. 

I look forward to sharing more of Alice’s story and lovely poetry in upcoming newsletters. For now, I hope “Self-Doubt” inspires you to free yourself from any limiting beliefs that keep you from reaching your full potential, just as it continues to inspire me.

Self-Doubt

By Alice K. Tao

Would a weed seek permission to germinate?
Would a flower hesitate to bloom?
Would a tree be afraid to grow too tall?

What if butterflies stayed in their cocoons?
What if birds questioned their singing?
What if dolphins shied away from leaping into the air?

So why, oh why?
My constant companion shackles me with fear
for budding creativity to remain in captivity?

Alice’s book, My River gently flows, is available from River House Books in Carmel, California. (831) 626-2665.

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