Does your play defer to others even though you can make the open shot you passed up on? Do you rise to the occasion? Do you really believe in yourself? Consider this poem and watch the video. If you are a parent, read and watch together with your young basketball player.
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, handsome, talented and 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 within us.
It is not just in some; it is in everyone.
And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give
other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.
Check out the video of this beautiful poem in the movie Coach Carter. Beware some PG13 language – but we think it is worth it.