Here’s what Marianne Williamson says about being all that we can be:
“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’s 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’re liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
I don’t know if Mozart’s mother and sister were playing small or if they couldn’t overcome the expectations of their culture…but they weren’t liberated. And yet, their presence liberates us! This inspiration for successful women is based on what Mozart’s mother and sister didn’t do. And for more info about Marianne Williamson, click on The Age of Miracles: Embracing the New Midlife.
Inspiration for Successful Women – Mozart’s Mother and Sister
I’m exploring Salzburg, Austria, where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born and lived. He was accepted as a master composer when he was 14, and was lauded not only in his own time – he’s still worshipped today.
But few people knew the sacrifices Mozart’s mother made. Anna Maria Pertl Mozart had seven children in ten years – only two of whom lived longer than seven months. In those days, only every second child lived. Anna Maria mediated between her authoritarian and stubborn husband, Leopold, and her genius son, Wolfgang.
And, few people know about Mozart’s sister Maria Anna Walburga Ignatia Mozart (Nannerl). She also had incredible musical talent, and father Leopold took her and Wolfgang through Europe to play duets together. But by age 16, she was no longer the “wonder child” – she was just a marriageable woman. Leopold ignored her musical compositions.
And this was because she was female. If she was male, she and Wolfgang may have toured together as adults, composed operas together, and been accepted to the royal courts together.
Instead, Nannerl married a 50 year old judge with five young children (his first wife passed). She gave birth to three children, and was responsible for all the kids, the laundry, the cooking, and the cleaning. After her husband died, Nannerl taught piano…but she never lived up to her musical potential.
How can women not be inspired by Nannerl’s story? She may have sacrificed her life, but we don’t have to! We need to honor the women who have gone before us, who couldn’t live up to their potential, by living up to our own potential. We have the opportunity, resources, and cultural support to do what we want with our lives.
Do you want to be a successful woman? Don’t hold yourself back. Don’t get in your own way. Don’t let your failures, struggles, or weaknesses overcome your hopes and goals for the future.
Do what comes naturally to you – which is what Nannerl would have done if she could have.
And, remember that successful women fail regularly! Failure, frustration, and despair is part of succeeding – and so is bouncing back from failure. We’re lucky we have the chance to face failure and succeed.
My friends, we’re blessed that we have the freedom to fail.
What do you think? I welcome your comments on this inspiration for successful women below!
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