When I began teaching personal transformation work more than 25 years ago it was a novelty. Back then, sharing ideas about healing the soul, standing in personal power and transforming the mind was considered by many to be strange.
Yet, somehow I knew the day would come when people would be able to turn on their televisions and get answers to questions few dared to ask aloud. Today, as the result of the obedient commitment of a woman, our sister, Ms. Oprah Winfrey, personal healing and transformation is happening out loud, in the public, on television, over the Internet, by telephone, around the world. Men and women, of all races, ages, economic and social backgrounds are asking questions and getting answers about how to think better, feel better, live better and be better. We are talking to each other, supporting and encouraging one another in matters that were once considered shameful, unspeakable and quite frankly . . . weird.
Oh how the times have changed! After so many attempts, by so many who claimed to know so much about what the public needs and wants; by enticing people to eat bugs and swim naked to win money in an attempt to capture our attention; a woman, with an open heart asked one question – – do you want to live a better life? That did it! Viewers said yes and real television programming about real life was born. LifeClass has been about the real questions, real issues, real challenges, that real people face everyday. It has been about giving real answers and real support in real time that encourages people to be and do better. I am humbly grateful to have been invited to be a part of this evolutionary shift in TV and on the web.
I am grateful. Today, with so many people suffering on so many levels as a result the shifts and changes in the world, we are being forced to reconsider what is considered good for us. LifeClass has been good for so many, for so many reasons. It has opened our minds and hearts to do a new thing in a new way. It has offered the world a process and a practice anyone can use in a way that makes sense in their own life. Now that the class is in recess it is up to us to continue our work and that is what transformation, change and healing is all about.
It is often said that the way to honor that which has brought value into your life is to continue the good you have received. It is based on that theory that Monday Matters has been born. On this page we will continue the work, the exploration and the healing that was born in the LifeClass. Since Monday is considered the first work day of the week, the Monday Matters page will offer you something to consider and work on throughout the week. In this way we will be honoring and expanding what we have received in LifeClass. We will continue the healing and transformational work in our own lives by sharing our insights with those we love. Each Monday on this page I will offer you a question and a principle to consider and practice. I will give you a “tidbit” of insight to consider and discuss with family, friends and your fellow LifeClass viewers. If you haven’t seen LifeClass, I encourage you to watch the re-runs on the OWN network or go to Oprah.com where you can view them on your computer. For those of you who have not seen LifeClass, I believe you will still find Monday Matters helpful and supportive as you move through your life’s journey. I encourage you to share your “Aha’s” and to ask questions. More important, I encourage you to continue doing your personal, inner work that LifeClass inspired us all to begin.
Words simply cannot express the depths of my gratitude to Ms. Oprah Winfrey, the OWN network, staff and to you, my fellow students for being open and willing to share who you are in the world. This process has affirmed for me that we are all in the same boat. We just use different oars at different times. The Aha’s for me have been many. The healing has been deep – – – very deep. I now know beyond a shadow of a doubt that everything happens the way it needs to happen and that everything happens for a reason. I am so grateful that I don’t know everything and that what I think I know needs to be examined and explored for a deeper meaning. Monday Matters is a way we can continue the examination and exploration together because I matter and you matter. Get your scoop and journal ready. I will join you again next Monday. Until then, do something good for yourself.
Monday Matters is a “blog” offered by Iyanla Vanzant
This week’s Meditation:
Finding Faith In Difficult Times.
Available at http://www.InnerVisionsWorldwide.com
This week’s Reading:
The Invitation by Oriah Mountain Dreamer.
Available at http://www.oriahmountaindreamer.com
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About Iyanla Vanzant:
Iyanla Vanzant, accomplished author, inspirational speaker, talk show host and living testament to the value in life’s valleys and the power of acting on faith, goes behind closed doors and deep inside people’s lives for emotional, riveting conversations in the new hit series- Iyanla: Fix My Life
Iyanla has had a unique life filled with many personal struggles, which she has overcome and used to become stronger. Now, she’s back, helping people fix their lives, using her past to help others’ futures. Secrets will be revealed, truths will be uncovered and emotions will come out as Iyanla teaches us how to pull back the curtain on what is broken in our lives.
Iyanla: Fix My Life is produced by Harpo Studios. Join the conversation on Twitter using #FixMyLife
Read more: http://IyanlaFixMyLife.com/
Written by Iyanla
Iyanla Vanzant, accomplished author, inspirational speaker, talk show host and living testament to the value in life’s valleys and the power of acting on faith, goes behind closed doors and deep inside people’s lives for emotional, riveting conversations in the new hit series- Iyanla: Fix My Life
Iyanla has had a unique life filled with many personal struggles, which she has overcome and used to become stronger. Now, she’s back, helping people fix their lives, using her past to help others’ futures. Secrets will be revealed, truths will be uncovered and emotions will come out as Iyanla teaches us how to pull back the curtain on what is broken in our lives.
Iyanla: Fix My Life is produced by Harpo Studios. Join the conversation on Twitter using #FixMyLife
10 comments
OMG!!!! How AWESOME!!! I will for sure be tuning in on Mondays……I just discovered a couple of weeks ago Oprah’s Lifeclass and have been telling everyone!!! It’ gives me goosebumps when I watch her show and now Monday Matters!! I will be spreading this news also. Thank You.
Diana
I think mon matters is a great idea
I want to thank you for asking the REAL questions. Thank you for making me think and not just give me a response. Thank you for bringing me into the reality and responsibility that I need to have, victim, savior, muddled or wanderer. In all thank you for teaching me to sort it all out and what to do about it.
Jo
I’m very excited about this opportunity to participate in “Monday Matters”. And, I look forward to sharing my growth as we take the journey together.
I once shared you idea of everything happens for a reason and in the time that is supposed to happen but I have had far too many things happen in recent years that do not seem to make sense or have any reason at all. Most recently my 36 year old sister passed away, leaving 3 children behind amongst many others, after a long and terrible battle with mental illness and drug abuse. This was the most devastating of many many terrible moments that our family has experienced as a result of my sisters problems. None of it makes sense and probably never will. I am sad to say that I do not believe that everything happens for a reason any longer but I look forward to having an aha moment in the future that makes me feel differently.
Hello Ms. Iyanla! I am so BLESSED to have know you thru LifeClass and Ms. Oprah Winfrey. I have seen the first episodes when I was looking for answers.
Now, I have found my purpose and I am so blessed to be an instrument of healing too in my own little ways. I started a radio block time, “Buhay Magic sa Green Magic” (Life’s Magic with Green Magic) and I aim to empower people (thru my little business) because that’s what God wants to happen. He wants His children to know that He created them in His own likeness and they have the Power to CREATE something good. 🙂
I love your Iyanla Fix my Life. I have read your books too – Peace From Broken Pieces (there was one copy left in the bookstore and it was staring right in front of me) and In the Meantime.
I pray that thru my calling, I can help heal the world, just like you. Someday, I want to meet you and Ms. Oprah. God bless us all. <3
Good Evening,
I am stepping out on faith knowing that if I make one step, God will make the rest. I am ambitious, energetic and very strong willed. I have been fighting a tedious fight that I would love to enlightened you on the details. Please contact me.
Thanks In Advance,
I cannot describe the deep Gratitude I have for LifeClass. I began watching in the beginning, early 2012. I live alone & struggle with deep rooted issues of different fears that have gone on throughout my 44yrs of life. There are times in my life that the guests on LifeClass are my only friends for encouragement. I have to give credit where credit is due., You and Oprah’s team of Inspirational Speakers have helped to transform my life. Although I still fight with Ego everyday, I have learned to let go of so many hurts & move forward. Several times I have slipped back to “my” way of thinking, only to be reminded by God to listen to him. ex: I had a major emergency surgery in April 2012. No job, no help, $350 to my name, & my car was repossessed 2 days after I got home from the hospital. My ex-husband gave me a beat old car. And I got a job 7 miles from my house. I was so Grateful! My life was climbing out of a dark hole. But I struggle with loneliness & depression. I chose to go to a bar at the end of September 2012. Upon leaving, I was pulled over & taken to jail. I didn’t lose my job, thank goodness, & I started to turn my life around. I started creating my own business in January 2013, the job I had changed courses in May, & I have enough $ saved up to make it until the end of August & hopefully my business takes off, because I just found out my license is revoked for 12mths. I don’t have access to public transportation so I am hoping everything keeps going in a forward motion with my business, as I will not have means to transport to a job, even within my community. I am a positive thinker, & I know my journey is for a reason. In confession, I have spoken ill towards someone without knowing their situation & lost a potential friend. (Yes, I apologized) I heard a voice tell me to buy a couple’s breakfast last week & didn’t do it, (ego spoke, low on funds) now I wonder what could have happened had I followed through. I want to Thank you for each episode, each blog, & website. I want to Thank God for the blessings & the acknowledgement of my mistakes, & make it a point to pay attention next time, doing what God says… I hope my story encourages others… I have Everything & I will do my part to continue on… Thank you Iyanla 🙂
Broke down this morning…frustrated…praying to God for strength, healing, and peace. Asked for my parents to “give me a sign”, that I needed their guidance “right now”. Waiting for the brick to fall on my head.
through my tears I realized there is no “brick”. Just my cognizant thinking of them brought them to me.
It’s okay to “freak out”, yell, screacm. It’s a release, a much needed release of everything that builds up inside us: love, anger, hate, frustration…
It must be acknowledged so we can move on. No one ever said life was easy. It’s what we make of it. So take the good with the bad, keep the good, deal with the bad and move on.
What REALLY does matter? It’s different for all of us.
In the end, we are just a memory…make it a good one!
I am glad to see Monday Matters is back. I loved the poem by Oriah. It really made me look hard at myself to truly answer those questions she asked.