Acts of Kindness, Courage, Love and Power
Julie Rochelle-Stephens, M.M.

In his 1994 Inaugural Speech, Nelson Mandela read this poem by Marianne Williamson:

       "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, and fabulous?
       Actually, who are you not to be?
       You are a child of God.
       Your playing small doesn't serve the world.
       There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are 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."

How often do we stop to acknowledge the courage it takes to speak life vows of commitment to our partners, to sit with our sick children, or to care for our frail and ageing parents? Do we appreciate the determination it takes to stay in school, or to walk away from drugs or risky behavior? What if we saw the heart behind a brave decision, the strength of a woman to birth a baby, the determination of a soldier to protect his brother in times of need? If you have deeply loved someone in your life, that is an act of courage. It is an act of power to defend your right to be treated fairly, or to be treated with care. It is the child on the playground who chooses to defend against a bully that is the courageous child, the spirit child. It is the giver who sets up a scholarship for a stranger; that is generous. It is the singer who uses voice to bring harmony and healing.

What if each day, in gratitude, we acknowledged our acts of kindness, courage, love, and power? I believe the world would change because our focus would be on the positive, on the gratitude. What if each of us for one week practiced shifting our focus, and with our families each day taught the children how to shift their focus? And at work, we would tell everyone about acts of kindness, courage, love, and power? What if at church we practiced acts of kindness, courage, love, and power? What if in every classroom, every teacher made time for checking in on each child’s acts of grace? And in Congress, each person reported how proud they were that each delegate exercised their acts of power and courage and love in their community? And in every hospital, each nurse, doctor, housekeeper, and cook practiced acts of kindness and each patient practiced acts of courage and love?

If the stories in the newspapers and on the ten o'clock news broadcast were reports of acts of courage and kindness, we would see a better world.

"Your playing small doesn't serve the world …" What a concept!

It is the simple things we do each day that make us human. We are, after all, spiritual beings having a human experience. As a coach in life I believe in each person's growth and transformation. I know that attitude is everything! I know that given the updated skills, each one of us will grow into our highest and best selves, reach our full potential, find freedom and find the light. Go Beyond ...

Julie Rochelle-Stephens, M.M, has returned to her native North Carolina after living in Washington state for 25 years. She has a private life coaching office in Jamestown and brings a fresh perspective on healing and teaching skills for positive life change. Julie has presented numerous workshops and retreats. She is a transformational life coach, motivational speaker, author and member of NAADAC.