I remember when Gwyneth Paltrow won the best actress Oscar for Shakespeare in Love many years ago. I was still an actress at the time, and I hung on her every word, half in awe, half jealous because she had stolen my speech, saying everything I was going to say when I won one day! Then cut to not long after, and it was all over the media that she had fallen into a depression. When she finally spoke out about it, she said something like winning the Oscar to her was shameful… like who was SHE to win this award when there are so many amazing, deserving artists out there? Like who is SHE to be placed among those greats? I didn’t get it.

But there was a day last year when I got it. On that day, I was honored and privileged enough to be featured among some of the greatest teachers, leaders, and inspirers in the world, such as Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson, Michael Beckwith, Desmond Tutu, and Neale Donald Walsch… and that’s just to name a few! It was the first time I had ever even been close to being in the same realm as these life-changers… As these people who had so profoundly also impacted my life.

I should have been happy…no, thrilled… ecstatic! I should have been excited! But instead of cheering, I cried. I fell into a dark hole, and couldn’t climb out of it. I felt ashamed and embarrassed. All I could think about was that I am in no way like these people, that I am such a sham because they are all incredible leaders, that they are all published and successful, living the life they teach about. And here I am, still with a “day job,” still having no publisher yet for my book. Here I am, barely reaching even 1% of the people they touch daily. All I could think about was that people were going to laugh at me when they saw me surrounded by these greats, and that when it was posted on my facebook and twitter, people were going to think that I was just trying to show off and would make fun of me. All I could think about was that I’m not like these teachers at all, that I am a sham. Why in the hell would anyone put me in their caliber? I think I knew now how Gwyneth felt.

I remember a vision board I made four years ago. It had a picture of me surrounded by those exact people I was featured among. When I made that board, I must have believed that somehow I could one day be a teacher and inspirer like them. That I had things to write and ways to teach that could inspire people to see the beauty in themselves, to see the power they have to make choices to change their lives. But on that day, when my vision board became reality, I felt like shit.

I took a look at the page and saw myself amidst a sea of people I have been reading, studying, learning from, inspired by, for many many years. I just looked at it. Looked at it like I had looked at my vision board. The words, “You’re not one of them! You’re not one of them! You’re not one of them!” kept taunting me in my head. I eventually chose to stop listening to the words. They could keep going if they wanted, but I wasn’t going to believe them. I just looked. After a few finally silent moments of just being there in the present, looking at it in the present, something shifted. Peace and calmness wafted over me as I realized, I AM one of them.

Because, truly, we are ALL one of them. Just because someone is well-known, has books, has tours, has followers, does not mean they are any more of a teacher than you are, or than I am. Every single person is a teacher. Every single interaction we have has the power to change a life and inspire. These “great gurus” are no more special than any of you. They are not better than, or separate from. And I would bet they would be the first ones to tell you this. Yes, we are all teachers. We all inspire. Today, and always, remember that you ARE one of them. You teach, you lead, you inspire, you change lives… whether you get any notoriety for it or not.

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In addition to being a writer for the Huffington Post’s “Women” and “Los Angeles Living” Sections, Holly teaches weekly intenSati fitness classes In Los Angeles which work out the body, mind, and spirit in one fell swoop, and teaches Reiki Energy Healing classes for Weight Loss, to Health Professionals, and to other Healers. She is a Certified Reiki Master Healer, Homeopath, and Certified Natural Health Professional who opened a healing practice, Couture for the Soul, in Santa Monica, CA in 2006. There she worked with individuals with cancer, as well as those suffering from all types of physical and emotional ailments. She now focuses on sharing the tools, energy, and inspiration for personal empowerment through writing and teaching.