“Why I’m Running for Congress”

I published my first book, A Return To Love, over twenty years ago. A quote from that book has made its way around the world, and it goes as follows:

“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.”

Now, with a wonderful career as a writer and lecturer, I’m running for a seat in Congress. Some have asked why someone who has spent years studying personal transformation would be running for political office. But I’m running because the same principles that transform an individual will, if applied transform the world. Those of us interested in the path of the heart are the last ones who should be sitting out the great social and political questions of our day, because if you have a clue as to what changes one life then you’re the one who has a clue as to what would change the world.

If love should guide our individual actions, then love should guide our nation as well. In the words of Benjamin Franklin, “America’s destiny is not Power, but Light.”

Many have been very turned off by politics because it’s a low level conversation full of negativity and fear. But if those of us who value positivity and love don’t put our energies into politics, then how will it transform? That’s the question that burned inside me, compelling me to run for office. So much has happened over the last few decades to transform different elements of our society; now let’s transform politics too.

You can find out more about my campaign at www.marianneforcongress.com. Make sure you’re registered to vote, and tell your friends to register too! Check out my FB page and twitter @marwilliamson, and help us spread the word. Nicole Ritchie is also helping us spread the word – here is her message to voters:

The power of the people, not the power of money, should guide our decisions. Humanitarian and not economic principles should be society’s bottom line. And taking care of our planet and our children should be more important that taking care of Wall Street. Those are my values and my passions. If enough of us who feel this way will make it to the polls on June 3 and vote for this kind of change, then the country and to some extent the entire world will be better off because we did.