Iyanla Vanzant is a really big deal, let me explain what I mean.

A month ago, a friend was going through one of life’s existential moments. You know that period where you figure the decision you make now sets the tone of your life for eons ahead (not always true but that’s a whole other topic). Anyway, let’s just say one of my closest friends was having a moment.    

But listen to this, the way she got through it was by tuning into one of  video series of Iyanla Vanzant, for two weeks straight; every day she went onto YouTube without fail. 

I suppose this kind of modern-day healing makes sense. Iyanla Vanzant has been declared, by no less than Oprah Winfrey herself, as one of life’s greatest spiritual teachers because what she learned about change, manifestation and self-love did not come from degrees (though she has several) but from having been forged in fire.

Iyanla Vanzant is a sexual abuse and domestic violence survivor who raised three children on her own. She grew without her parents, lost her home, lost her money. In fact, there was a period in her life when she lost every single thing, even faith.  So when she spits fire and eases the soul, almost simultaneously, it comes from a real place of knowing

Today this inspirational speaker, motivator, lawyer, teacher, author, life coach, and television personality is everyone’s favourite “aunty” and psyche warrior. Here are some of our favourite quotes from Vanzant that will stop and make you pause.

Vanzant On Fear And Faith

If you are afraid to take a chance, take one anyway. What you don’t do can create the same regrets as the mistakes you make.

On Forgiveness

Forgiveness is a process of giving up the old for something new. Old experiences and memories that we hold on to in anger, resentment, shame, or guilt cloud our spirit mind. The truth is, everything that has happened had to happen. It was a growth experience. There was something you needed to know or learn. If you stay angry, hurt, afraid, ashamed, or guilty, you miss the lesson. You will be stuck in a cloud of pain.  

On Purpose

Everyone has a purpose because God is a purposeful God.  

Iyanla Vanzant On Love

When you need to be loved, you take love wherever you can find it. When you are desperate to be loved, feel love, know love, you seek out what you think love should look like. When you find love, or what you think love is, you will lie, kill, and steal to keep it. But learning about real love comes from within. It cannot be given. It cannot be taken away. It grows from your ability to re-create within yourself, the essence of loving experiences you have had in your life.

On Setting Standards

If you don’t set standards for yourself, no one else will!

On Being A Black Woman

I am a Black Girl. My life is important. I am the continuation of a history, legacy and tradition of powerful people. The lives of my foremothers now have meaning through me. I stand today because of who they were.

On Doing It

People may not like what you do, people may not like how you do it, but these people are not living your life. You are!

Iyanla Vanzant On Change

Your willingness to look at your darkness is what empowers you to change.

On Life Being Unfair

You must stand up to the very thing that challenges you, look it in the face, get clear about your intention, order your thoughts and your life, and proceed without fear or hesitation. Life is not unfair. Along the way, you will always find bits of information and support to guide you to purpose.

On Being Enough

Until and unless you know that you are enough just the way you are, you will always be driven to look for more. Knowing that you are enough is a function of consciousness. Your enough-ness develops in direct proportion to the relationship you have with your true identity. Until you wholeheartedly believe in your own worth, in spite your of accomplishments and possessions, there will be a void in your Spirit.

Vanzant On Authenticity And Love

When you don’t show up as who you are, people fall in love with who you’re not. Then when they find out who you are, that’s when they leave.

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