Today was the first of school for three of my children—the fourth starts next week—I am always a bit anxious when school starts, this is mainly a hold-over from my own school years. Today I am a bit more on edge than usual though and the reason is very obvious: I begin instructing a yoga class at the local community center this evening. Why am I anxious? In part it is because I am now being paid to be an instructor. It’s also an unfamilliar experience, not the teaching aspect but the meeting new people, the being in a new place and, of course, the wiggle of self-doubt: Who am I to be doing this?
Thankfully, I was remnided by a post from Nitin R.’s blog that I am of infitinite worth.
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.
Wait a minute, why do you keep referring to yourself as an instructor? Aren’t Yoga teachers called gurus?
A guru is a person of great wisdom and knowledge who uses that knowledge and wisdom to guide others. Guru is not a title that can be claimed, it can only be given. Be wary of anyone who calls themself a guru.
Namasté