"I'm coming out - I want the world to know, got to let it show. I'm coming out - I want the world to know, I got to let it show." I think this song is applicable in anyone's life. Because of the nature of life and outside influences, we all need to be able to break of the things that bind us and hold us down from time to time, be it systemic challenges, personal traumas, unsupportive environments, etc. After much hiding, there are times when we want/need to just bust out and say, 'this is me.' While this isn't always a safe thing in every arena of life, we should at least have spaces where we can do this. And with today being National Coming Out Day, even if you're not of the LGBT community, take the cue and feel empowered to live out loud a little more authentically.
"There's a new me coming out, and I just had to live, and I wanna give. I'm completely positive. I think this time around I am gonna do it like you never do it, like you never knew it. Ooh, I'll make it through." When you feel empowered and strong in who you are, it can inspire you to want to live and be positive. You have a confidence and a strength that pushes you to live and be free. When you feel free, you do more and try more things, especially when you've experienced oppression in some form. Freedom can bring about positive energy and drive. It can also bring a creativity and a desire to see others freed.
"The time has come for me to break out of the shell. I have to shout that I'm coming out!" What else can I say about this line? When the time comes, you will feel it, and you will be unable to hold it in. Embrace your desire to break out and live as fully and freely as you can.
"I've got to show the world all that I wanna be and all my abilities. There's so much more to me. Somehow, I have to make them just understand. I got it well in hand, and, oh, how I've planned. I'm spreadin' love. There's no need to fear, and I just feel so glad every time I hear..." While we can often be judged (and judge others) based on appearance and perception, there is an amazing amount of depth and complexity to everyone. Even the simplest person has a story, gifts, passions, fears, beliefs, and so much more. Though we can sometimes shrink back from showing all this, and I think Marianne Williamson does well to explain why - "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." - we have to be willing to stand up for ourselves and spread our wings. In embracing who we are, we love ourselves and are better able to love the world around us. We have no need to fear who we are, and we have to share that level of comfort with others. People often fear what they don't understand, but that's why days like today are essential - when we are intentional about sharing dialogue and talking honestly with people, we can break down those barriers that divide us and create a greater, more loving human community.
Now, I'm not stupid enough to say that you should openly and freely share all of yourself with everyone you meet, because there are definitely some risks associated with that. What I am saying is that if you have no other empowered space, you should be empowered in your own life and mind. Even if you are an oppressed minority, hold your head high, knowing your own self worth, not allowing society or its limitations to inform your view of yourself. And continue to fight and be an advocate for yourself and/or others who are in some way oppressed. One way of becoming liberated is to help liberate someone else.
So, come out!
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