The following is an excerpt from my book, Tapping the Power Within – A Path of Self-Empowerment for Women
What I Know Now is that every living thing has a spirit.
However, there is only one Spirit. The spirit of a thing or being is connected to the Spirit of life, who is God, the Creator and essence of life.
Through breath, God imbues every living thing with its being and its essence. The presence of Spirit is everywhere, at all times, giving life to all things.
What I Know Now is that there is a seed of peace, joy, love, and wisdom in each of us.
My seeds had been trampled upon by the bad behavior of the big people, the adults in my life . . . It would be a spiritual bypass for me to say they did the best they could, because the truth is, we can all be better if we choose to.
What I Know Now about spirituality is that you cannot make it up as you go along.
The principles must be embodied, embraced, and lived. There must be accountability for the development of spiritual integrity. Whether you receive your guidance from a sacred text, a minister, or a spiritual teacher, everyone must be held accountable for the spiritual beliefs that manifest as behavior.
What I Know Now is that making life harder than it needs to be does not make you more valuable, worthy, or stronger. In fact, it gives you wrinkles!
What I Know Now is that most of us simply never received the tools or the information that we need to create the lives we dream of living.
In addition, the challenges and hardships we face in life—more often than not—cause us to lose faith in ourselves, in our abilities, and in our dreams.
What I Know Now is that the people who hurt me, betrayed me, and disappointed me did not change.
My prayers for spiritual clarity, peace of mind, and the desire to be pleasing in my service to God changed how I viewed myself, my life, and the others who come to share the experience of living with me.
What I Know Now is that every woman needs and can do rituals to feed, comfort, and develop her spirit.
A nightly bath can be a ritual. A morning or evening prayer practice can be a ritual. Taking a day for yourself, withdrawing from the world, or doing something that calms and feeds your soul on a regular basis can be a ritual.
What I Know Now is that winter is the time for us to rest and renew.
The cold, frost, and snow encourage us to slow down, go within (physically and spiritually), and rest.
Spring is the time for us to awaken and plant . . . Summer is when we ripen and reap the rewards of what we have planted—mentally, emotionally, and physically. Fall is the most appropriate time for us to evaluate and cleanse.
What I Know Now is that happiness is a temporary condition that arises from external stimulation.
Joy is a state of mind and being that feeds and nurtures the soul. Many things that make us happy satisfy the demands of the ego. Joy is a Spirit-driven, Spirit-given experience. When we have joy, we are centered in the heart, grounded in calm, and unshaken by the world at large.
What I Know Now is that many of us still do not know what we are seeking.
We embark upon a spiritual search with a preconceived idea of what we should experience and what we can expect as a result. Few of us understand our need for mental or emotional healing. Others dismiss the connection between our physical-world experiences and our spiritual curriculum.
What I Know Now is that anyone on the path of spiritual evolution must realize that she will not get full-time rewards for part-time practice.
When it is your desire to make God, your spirit, and a life of spiritual integrity a priority, the blessings you will receive are not for you alone. They are to serve as a demonstration of what is possible to others.
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About Iyanla Vanzant:
Iyanla Vanzant is the best-selling author of five books on self-empowerment, personal growth and spiritual healing, with the most recent book being Peace from Broken Pieces. As the founder and executive director of the Inner Visions Spiritual Life Maintenance Network, she conducts workshops, seminars and lectures nationally. Drawing from her own experiences of family dysfunction, abuse, and poverty, Iyanla encourages us all to look at ourselves, laugh at ourselves and then take the necessary steps to heal ourselves. Her practical message is based on the principles of universal law, self-determination and the power of Spirit. You can learn more about her work at www.innervisionsworldwide.com.
Iyanla has recently appeared several times during Oprah’s Lifeclass webcast segments. You can view the videos on Oprah’s Lifeclass Website She also recently appeared on Super Soul Sunday with Oprah, speaking about what she had to go through to get to where she is now. You can view these segments on the Super Soul Sunday website.
Iyanla has a new show on the Oprah Winfrey Network called “Iyanla, Fix My Life!”. To learn more about it and apply to be on Iyanla’s show and have her help you, please visit the OWN website and SHARE YOUR STORY.
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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
1 comment
Thank you Iyanla for sharing your wisdom. As you walk through life and as you learn lessons, you are quick to open your heart and share them with the rest of us. We are part of your “tweeple tribe” and as you walked through the OWN Ambassador luncheon, my sister and I thought that you would be amazing to talk to. We’ve seen your vulnerability on Oprah…and we’ve seen your undying strength and perseverance. We love your energy and that you open it up for the world to take what works for them…while we all go on our way to find out what it means to live your best life.