Quotes by Marianne Williamson

It takes courage...to endure the sharp pains of self discovery rather than choose to take the dull pain of unconsciousness that would last the rest of our lives.

Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are.

In the Christic tradition, this is the meaning of  becoming as a little child.  Little children dont think they know what things mean, in fact, they know they dont know.  They ask someone older and wiser to explain things to them.  Were like children who dont know but think we do.  Were meant to shine.  Look at small children.  Theyre all so unique before they start trying to be, because they demonstrate the power of genuine humility.  This is also the explanation of beginners luck. When we go into a situation not knowing the rules, we dont pretend to know how to figure anything out, and we dont know yet what there is to be afraid of.  This releases the mind to create from its own higher power.  

Theres no single effort more radical in its potential for saving the world than a transformation of the way we raise our children.

The most powerful thought is a prayerful thought. When Im praying for you, I am praying for my own peace of mind. I can only have for myself what I am willing to wish for you.

When we pray for God to illumine our path, we are saying, ‘Dear God, please show me the way. What thoughts do I need to think, to be able to navigate my life at this point? What perceptions do I need; what insights will guide me? Who do I need to forgive? What parts of my personality do I need to look at; what changes do I need to make? Please come upon me and heal my life. Amen.

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. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

Forgiveness is like the martial arts of consciousness.  In aikido and other martial arts, we sidestep our attackers force rather than resisting it.  The energy of the attack then boomerangs back in the direction of the attacker. forgiveness works in the same way.  When we attack back, and defense is a form of attack, we initiate a war which no one can win.

Whether were forgiving our parents or someone else or ourselves, the laws of mind remain the same.  As we love, we shall be released from pain and as we deny love, we shall remain in pain.  Each of us have different fears and different manifestations of fear,  but all of us are saved by the same technique:  The call to God to save our lives by salvaging our minds.  Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.  For love is the kingdom and love is the glory and love is the power, forever and forever.

We all make mistakes, we all have fears, and we all have weaknesses. Behind all that is our essential self. When our essential self has made contact with another, the light is dazzling and would fill the universe. The challenge of enchantment is to remain faithful to that light, to believe in it when it is not so apparent. Then that light becomes an incandescent glow and it wraps itself around everything.

There is, inside all our heads, the ego’s rabid attack dog. It is purely vicious toward others and toward ourselves as well. Learning to control that dog, and ultimately to end its life, is the process and purpose of enlightened relationships.

God gives us His strength by giving us His vision of things. Our seeing people as innocent is the only way to achieve God’s peace.

Men in our culture have been spoiled, treated with false reverence instead of respect.

I conquered outer worlds just as he had. I expressed masculine strength and power just as he had. But it didnt bring me closer to him or to others like him because I had become one of the guys, and thats not what most men are looking for. He had never loved me for being a great guy.

In business as well as in everything else, youre in business to spread love.  Your agency should spread love,  your screenplay should spread love, your store should spread love, your life should spread love.  The key to a successful career is realizing that it s not separate from the rest of your life, but is rather an extension of your most basic self and your most basic self is love.

Were hallucinating. And thats what this world is: a mass hallucination, where fear seems more real than love. Fear is an illusion. Our craziness, paranoia, anxiety and trauma are literally all imagined.

...there are four rules for miraculous work creation: Be positive. Send love. Have fun. Kick ass. Amen.

Sometimes people claim they dont need a crutch like Jesus, but hes not a crutch, hes a teacher. If you want to be a writer, you read the classics. If you want to make great music you listen to music thats been made by great musicians who have gone before. If youre studying to be a painter, its a good idea to study the great masters. If Picasso came into your room while you were learning to draw and said Hi, I have a couple of hours would you like some hints? would you say no? So it is with spiritual masters: Jesus, Buddha or any other enlightened being. Theyre geniuses in the way they used their minds and hearts just as Beethoven was a genius with music, or Shakespeare a genius with words. Why not learn from them, follow their lead, study what they were doing right.

Love makes us wake up in the morning with a sense of purpose and a flow of creative ideas. Love floods our nervous system with positive energy, making us far more attractive to prospective employers, clients, and creative partners. Love fills us with powerful charisma, enabling us to produce new ideas and new projects, even within circumstances that seem to be limited. Love leads us to atone for our errors and clean up the mess when weve made mistakes. Love leads us to act with impeccability, integrity, and excellence. Love leads us to serve, to forgive, and to hope. Those things are the opposite of a poverty consciousness; theyre the stuff of spiritual wealth creation.

The only way to gain power in a world that is moving too fast is to learn to slow down. And the only way to spread one’s influence wide to learn how to go deep. The world we want for ourselves and our children will not emerge from electronic speed but rather from a spiritual stillness that takes root in our souls. Then, and only then, will we create a world that reflects the heart instead of shattering it.