Day 1. Our greatest fears.

"Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond all measure" Marianne Williamson.

It is no coincidence that this poem was introduced to me by another young woman who had gone to the same working class primary school as me. I had known Barbara almost my whole life and when she was elected by our peers to represent the young people of South Australia I was so proud. She gave me a copy of this poem and I held on to it for years, even though we had parted ways and I don't know where she is or what she is doing now.

I loved this poem because she gave it to me and because it is beautiful, but I didn't really get it before this last week or two.

"It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?"

I had read these words over and over - I'd even had them blu-tacked to my bedroom wall for a few years at uni. I only just appreciated them in the way that I think they were intended.

I had thought that this was a call to leadership. Actually, it's a call to be ourselves. And being ourselves is the hardest thing of all.

"Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

You were born to make manifest the glory of God within us. It is not just in some; it is in everyone."

Firstly, to be very clear I am a committed atheist. Secondly, no matter what our area of expertise- be it in art or teaching or cooking or looking after or children or running our business or in trying to change the world- if we bring our full selves, our authentic selves, everyone benefits. If we all do it, we all grow together.

The purpose of this blog is not to serve as a self-help piece or a few words of social media inspiration. It's to acknowledge how bloody hard and scary it is to actually do these things.

I'm not a wall flower or a shrinking violet. I'm pretty confident all things considered. I've been a leader and a manager and a mentor. But I can not escape the ever increasing hunch that perhaps I have not always been myself and sometimes I play small.

The last few weeks have been some of the most challenging for me in understanding who I am and what I am capable of. In considering my own unique skills, abilities and talents, I have been terrified. It is much easier to put things in the too hard basket, to think that external pressures are what is holding us back. Realising, as I have, that it is our own psyche that is stopping us from reaching for the stars is far scarier than thinking we have no power. Once you know that the only thing stopping you is you- well then you are the only thing that can start it too.

"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."

Doing something for others is often far easier than doing something for ourselves. For me, the entire reason that I am thinking about this and considering who I am and what I am capable of is to bring change to the child protection system. In doing so, it is my hope that I will not be the only one.

We never know who is watching our actions or what they think. We can't be sure for what motivations people act or what reasons they do what they do. We can be in charge of ourselves and how we want to present ourselves to the world.

If I combine my authentic self, do not shrink and let my own light shine, then who am I and what can I do?

I'm Georgia.

I'm turning 40 this year.

I'm an optimist.

I'm happy.

I believe in a fair and equal world for everyone.

I'm interested in politics because it is how I think I can help make a difference.

I do not have any interest in becoming a politician.

I always got the best grades on tests. I skipped year 9.

I am not good at sport.

I love to dance.

I love babies.