Lately I’ve found myself singing a song I haven’t thought about in years:
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine…
Everywhere I go, I’m gonna let it shine…
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine…
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
It’s simple.
It’s childlike.
And it hits something deep.
The song comes from the 1920s gospel tradition and later became a powerful anthem of the civil rights movement. It’s a reminder of something we often forget:
You don’t need to be loud to be meaningful and powerful.
And you don’t need permission to let your light shine.
That’s what I’ve been reflecting on.
When I used to manage a team, I was so focused on the deadlines and deliverables that I often forgot something more important:
The people.
I didn’t pause to celebrate them.
I didn’t say, “You’re working hard — and I see it.”
Even though I meant it, I often held back.
Encouragement, warmth, affirmation — those are real strengths of mine.
But I was afraid they’d be misread as soft or distracting or “not serious enough.”
So I dimmed my light.
I’ve come to realize that a lot of people do this.
We hold back things that are good and true in us,
because we’re afraid of how they’ll be interpreted.
For you, letting your light shine might mean:
- Giving praise — even when no one else is saying it
- Showing emotion — when everyone else is playing it cool
- Speaking up for someone — even if it’s risky
- Admitting you’re unsure — in a room full of confidence
- Asking for help — when you’re used to carrying it alone
Sometimes the thing we hide is exactly what someone else needs.
What is it for you?
What light in you have you been keeping under wraps?
What would it look like to let it shine — everywhere you go?
