Born as Rhonda Eva Harris in 1953, Rev. Dr. Iyanla Vanzant overcame a challenging early life marked by domestic violence and poverty to become a renowned relationship coach, author, TV host and inspirational speaker.
After earning her Bachelor’s and Juris Doctor degrees, Vanzant found her true calling in inspiring others through her writings and public appearances.
Her books, including the best-selling “Peace from Broken Pieces,” have sold eight million copies.
After a brief falling out with Oprah Winfrey, the two reconciled, leading Vanzant to host “Iyanla: Fix my Life” on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).
As the head of Inner Visions: Institute for Spiritual Development, she also trains spiritual leaders.
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Recognized for her influential role, Vanzant has been awarded an Honorary Doctor of Divinity and listed as one of the most influential women and African Americans in several publications.
I have made a list of the famous quotes by Iyanla Vanzant to motivate you.
Best Iyanla Vanzant Quotes
Choice is our point of power. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
If you don’t enjoy your life, sorrow, sadness, suffering, fear, shame and guilt will. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
I have a body, but I am not my body. I have a face, but I am not my face. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
No matter what is going on in your life today, remember, it is only preparation for better things. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
The best students get the hardest lessons. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Do what brings you joy, and your purpose will unfold. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
What will support any relationship is clear, complete and conscious conversations when upsets or breakdowns occur. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
The way to achieve your own success is to be willing to help somebody else get it first. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
You can accept or reject the way you are treated by other people. But until you heal the wounds of your past, you are going to bleed. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
I now know that nothing in my life will change until I change the way I see my life and myself. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
If you see crazy coming, cross the street! ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
It’s time for you to move, realizing that the thing you are seeking is also seeking you. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Life will let you get away with something for a while, but sooner or later, you will pay the price. Everything you do in life causes the effects that you experience. When you get the bill, be prepared to pay. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Act the way you want to be and soon you will be the way you act. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
No storm can last forever. It will never rain 365 days consecutively. Keep in mind that trouble comes to pass, not to stay. Don’t worry! No storm, not even the one in your life, can last forever. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Famous Iyanla Vanzant Quotes
Know thyself. Accept thyself. Love thyself. No matter what you have done, where you have been, know, accept, and love who you are. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Everything happens when it needs to happen; everyone is always where they need to be. You will never miss out on what is meant for you, even if it has to come to you in a roundabout way. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
I am just an ordinary person committed to doing extraordinary things. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Everything that happens to you is a reflection of what you believe about yourself. We cannot outperform our level of self-esteem. We cannot draw to ourselves more than we think we are worth. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Once you get clear on who you are, what you do, and what you have been called to do, you become powerful. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Accept and acknowledge your own brilliance. Stop waiting for others to tell you how great you are! Believe it for yourself and about yourself. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
You will stumble at time, forget what you want, fall headfirst into your old habits and beliefs. Fear not! Always remember to be patient and loving with yourself and others because that is what God does all the time. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Comparison is an act of violence against the self. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Top Iyanla Vanzant Quotes
You must find the strength to open the wounds, stick your hands inside, pull out the core of the pain that is holding you in your past, the memories, and make peace with them. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
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. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Healing is the application of love. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
The way we do one thing is the way we do everything. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
When you give to others to the degree that you sacrifice yourself, you make the other person a thief. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Don’t get hung up on the hard times, the challenges. Tell your story by highlighting the victories. Because it’s your victories that will inspire, motivate, encourage other people to live their stories in grander ways. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
People you don’t love can’t hurt you. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
It is important to acknowledge all your feelings and not beat yourself up for having them. Your feelings are not good or bad, they just are. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Popular Iyanla Vanzant Quotes
People are hurting. People are suffering. But you can not get everywhere. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
To honor life, we must be willing to grow through what we don’t know yet, and outgrow what we know no longer fits us. We must be willing to give in to the process, moment by moment, realizing a new plot may be unfolding. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
You are the light of the world. You are an instrument of the Divine. You are the greatest miracle in the world. Life is graced by your presence. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Until you heal the wounds of your past, you will continue to bleed. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
You are the only one who can do it like you do it. You are the best. You have what it takes. You have the power. When you put your mind to something, you get it done. So what are you waiting for? ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
I’m okay, you’re okay. Now let’s go to work. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
When you are in alignment with the desires of your heart, things have a way of working out. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
You cannot experience the fullness of your authentic self or life when you live to avoid hurt. You will never know the joy of love or the peaceful satisfaction of being loved if you hide from hurt. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Love is not all that is required in a relationship. It needs understanding, openness, kindness, patience, long-suffering. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
You set the standards for how you will be treated. People will treat you the exact way you treat yourself. So be good to you. Take time for yourself. Rest. Play. Shower yourself with affection, support, and gifts. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Great Iyanla Vanzant Quotes
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. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
A man who is not accountable to anyone is a danger to himself. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Stuff your feelings because feelings buried alive don’t die. And that fear or that upset or that anger or that whatever it is, it’ll turn into something inside of you. So you want to get it out. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Use your time, energy and talents to do the best you can right now. Spend no time wishing it were better. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Education does not take place when you learn something you did not know before. Education is your ability to use what you have learned to be better today than you were yesterday. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
We have a tendency to always test people’s love. ‘I want to see how badly I have to behave before you’ll leave me. Because I don’t really think you want me anyhow.’ ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Criticism does not make you smarter or better than the one you are criticizing. In fact, the stuff you are critical of in others is the same stuff you don’t like about yourself. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Religion is the rules, regulations, ceremonies and rituals developed by man to create conformity and uniformity in the approach to God. Spirituality is God’s call in your soul. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Your willingness to look at your darkness is what empowers you to change. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Do not be afraid to experience your emotions; they are the path to your soul. Emotions erupt to remind us we are alive, that we are human. And to let us know we are growing. Trust yourself enough to feel what you feel. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Powerful Iyanla Vanzant Quotes
Learning to trust yourself and what you know takes time and work. You cannot expect to eradicate a lifetime of misguided information overnight. You must make a continuous, conscious effort to get on good terms with you. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Your divine mate already exists. When you get to the place in yourself that is peaceful divine love, your true mate will be revealed. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
In speaking the truth of your experience to another, it will serve you well to realize that how they choose to respond is not your responsibility. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
When you can tell the story and it doesn’t bring up any pain, you know it is healed. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
We set the standard of how we want to be treated. Our relationships are reflections of the relationships we have with ourselves. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Give yourself permission to smile a lot today. In fact, why not make it a habit! ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
You have set standards for how you want to be treated and what you expect from yourself and for yourself. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
You’ve got to be willing to lose everything to gain yourself. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
When we start the day with a spirit of joy, openness, peace and love, we put the universe on alert, we want more of the same. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
You have a right to your thoughts and feelings. Your feelings are always valid. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
You can direct the outcome of any situation you face through the power of thought. Keep your thoughts focused on the best possible outcome for everyone involved and never allow yourself to be pushed where you don’t choose to be. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Wise Iyanla Vanzant Quotes
If it’s not your story to tell, you don’t tell it. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Trying to prove something to someone is never a valid reason for doing anything. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Family is supposed to be our safe haven. Very often, it’s the place where we find the deepest heartache. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
I am the one I have been looking for. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
The remedy for life’s broken pieces is not classes, workshops or books. Don’t try to heal the broken pieces. Just forgive. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
When your way doesn’t work, don’t be disheartened. You must be willing to try another way. A closed door doesn’t mean you have been cut off permanently. It is a challenge, an obstacle, a tool to be used. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Parents are teachers, guides, leaders, protectors and providers for their children. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
You can never love anyone to your own detriment. That is not love, that is possession, control, fear, or a combination of them all. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
If you don’t have a vision you’re going to be stuck in what you know. And the only thing you know is what you’ve already seen. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Motivational Iyanla Vanzant Quotes
Challenges come so we can grow and be prepared for things we are not equipped to handle now. When we face our challenges with faith, prepared to learn, willing to make changes, and if necessary, to let go, we are demanding our power be turned on. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
It’s important that we share our experiences with other people. Your story will heal you and your story will heal somebody else. When you tell your story, you free yourself and give other people permission to acknowledge their own story. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Loving yourself has nothing to do with being selfish, self-centered or self-engrossed. It means that you accept yourself for what you are. Loving yourself means that you accept responsibility for your own development, growth and happiness. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Remain open. There is something bigger than you know going on here. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
We can think, speak, and bring the best possible outcome into existence by focusing on where we are going, not on where we think we are. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
The goal isn’t to be perfect, but to be authentic! ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
When two broken people bring their broken pieces together, chances are they will never become a whole anything. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Always remember who you are. Know that you are never required to apologize to anyone for being yourself. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Inspirational Iyanla Vanzant Quotes
I am not my sister’s keeper. I am my sister. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
If someone has offended you, insulted you, or disappointed you, let it go! If you are remembering all the ways you have been hurt or forgotten, let it go! Ask yourself, what good does it do for me to hold on to this? ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Planning is the only way to keep yourself on track. Plan your moments to be joyous. Plan your days to be filled with peace. Plan your life to be an experience of growth. When you know where you are going, the universe will clear a path for you. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Change doesn’t have to be hard, and healing doesn’t have to hurt. Surely by now you know that everything happens for a reason! There is something better awaiting you on the other side of this. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
When the time comes for you to make a change or to grow, the universe will make you so uncomfortable you will eventually have no choice. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Today, I choose awareness. I choose to be aware of the beauty of life and living. I choose to be aware of the simple pleasures in life. I choose awareness of joy, awareness of peace, and awareness of love. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Help me to see new ways of being as I release old ways of seeing. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
There are two emotions: love and fear. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Just for today, allow yourself to embrace all that you are every moment. Know that you are a vessel of light. Allow yourself to release all doubts about your ability, the mistakes of the past, the fear of the future. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Be patient with yourself. Be gentle with yourself. Know that all things are working in your favor. If you take one step toward the light of Spirit, Spirit will take five steps on your behalf. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Inspiring Iyanla Vanzant Quotes
Love people enough to tell them the truth and respect them enough to trust that they can handle it. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Stay in your car in your lane on your road in your world. Stay in your own lane. Don’t be minding other people’s spiritual business. Stay in your car. In your lane. On your road. In your world. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Feminine power is silent, dark, mysterious, healing, nurturing. A woman can walk into a room and control it. She doesn’t even have to open her mouth if she knows where her power is. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
You are always being prepared for something better or protected from something worse. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Do not allow yesterday’s garbage to influence your experience today. It is unnecessary to punish yourself for being human. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
You have to meet people where they are, and sometimes you have to leave them there. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
You can’t just cry about the pain…pray about the pain. You must eliminate the pain. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
When you stand and share your story in an empowering way, your story will heal you and your story will heal somebody else. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Forgiveness fosters growth, learning, and healing. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Everyone has a purpose because God is a purposeful God. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Pain is pain, hurt is hurt, fear is fear, anger is anger, and it has no color. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Anger simply means that your personal power – your personal space, your personal sense of being – has been violated. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Lives fall apart when they need to be rebuilt. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
My vision is to elevate the consciousness of humanity one mind, one heart, one life, one spirit at a time. They are married. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
Love is always present, surrounding us. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
In my mind, marriage is a spiritual partnership and union in which we willingly give and receive love, create and share intimacy, and open ourselves to be available and accessible to another human being in order to heal, learn and grow. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
When you’re the strong one, people don’t give you permission to hurt. ~ Iyanla Vanzant.
So these were the 112 top Iyanla Vanzant quotes and sayings on life, love, relationships, strength and friendship.
If you like these quotes and sayings, then you can also read my other posts on Isabel Allende quotes and Ivanka Trump quotes.
Short Biography of Iyanla Vanzant
Iyanla Vanzant, born Rhonda Eva Harris in 1953, is a renowned American figure known for her inspirational talks, books, and TV appearances, notably on “Iyanla: Fix My Life.”
Overcoming a challenging childhood and an abusive first marriage, Vanzant emerged as a significant voice in spiritual and personal development.
| Full Name | Rhonda Eva Harris |
| Born | 13 September 1953 (age 70 years), Brooklyn, New York, United States |
| Occupation(s) | Inspirational speaker, Lawyer, Spiritual Teacher, Author, TV Personality |
| Education | City University of New York, Medgar Evers, Virginia Union University (BA), Queens College, City University of New York (JD), University of Santa Monica (MA) |
| Years active | 1980-present |
| Children | Gemmia Vanzant, Damon Vanzant, Nisa Vanzant |
| Spouse | Adeyemi Bandele (m. 1997–2007), Charles Vanzant (m. 1973–1979) |
| Siblings | Ray Harris |
| Website | iyanla.com |
She’s been recognized for her influence in healthy relationships and spiritual leadership, even touring with Oprah.
Vanzant, who also faced personal losses, including the deaths of her daughters, continues to inspire many with her resilience and wisdom.
Quick Facts about Iyanla Vanzant
- Iyanla Vanzant is a former lawyer turned spiritual teacher, author, and TV host.
- She rose to fame with appearances on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” in the 1990s.
- Vanzant is a New York Times bestselling author, known for books like “Acts of Faith.”
- She hosts the TV show “Iyanla: Fix My Life” on the Oprah Winfrey Network.
- Her teachings focus on self-discovery, healing, and personal growth.
- Despite facing personal challenges, Vanzant’s journey is inspirational.
- She was ordained as a minister in 2003, integrating spirituality into her work.
- Vanzant is a highly sought-after motivational speaker worldwide.
- Millions have been impacted by her books, TV show, and speeches.
- She founded Inner Visions Institute for Spiritual Development.
- Vanzant has received numerous awards, including the NAACP Image Award.
- She emphasizes the importance of forgiveness for healing and peace.
- Vanzant offers online courses to reach a global audience.
- She has made appearances in films and TV shows beyond her own.
- Known for her powerful affirmations, Vanzant inspires many online.
- Vanzant advocates for self-love and self-care as essential for well-being.
- She hosts empowerment retreats and workshops for deeper personal growth.
- Her influence has led her to appear on the covers of major magazines.
- Gratitude is a central theme in Vanzant’s teachings.
- She has been featured in documentaries, offering insights into her philosophy.
- Vanzant’s work crosses cultural boundaries, appealing to diverse audiences.
- She is a strong advocate for women’s empowerment.
- Vanzant’s legacy is set to inspire future generations with her teachings.
- She practiced law for 14 years before entering the spiritual and self-help field.
- Vanzant has a degree from Medgar Evers College and the City University of New York School of Law.
- Her TV show, “Iyanla: Fix My Life,” deals with personal struggles and healing.
- Vanzant uses her personal experiences to uplift and inspire others.
- Her online offerings include courses and programs for spiritual and personal development.
- Her insights on self-love and self-care have influenced many to prioritize their well-being.
- Vanzant’s work has been recognized with prestigious honors like the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
Top Questions about Iyanla Vanzant
A: Iyanla Vanzant became well-known through her engaging appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), hosting the show “Iyanla: Fix My Life.” Her journey to fame began earlier as a respected author, motivational speaker, and spiritual guide.
A: Iyanla Vanzant makes her home in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, and serves as an ordained New Thought minister.
A: Born in Brooklyn, New York, Iyanla Vanzant faced a challenging upbringing filled with turmoil, an abusive relationship, and the heartbreak of losing a daughter, which led her to discover her true calling in aiding others.
A: Iyanla is skilled in Tapping (EFT), certified in Aromatherapy, and is pursuing mastery in herbalism.
A: Iyanla’s fame was ignited by Oprah Winfrey, who invited her to appear on the Oprah Winfrey show 20 times between 1998 and 1999 after hearing her on the radio. This exposure paved the way for her own TV show in 2001, although it was short-lived.
A: Iyanla changed her name from Rhonda as part of a symbolic rebirth, marking a profound personal transformation and shedding her past identity.
A: Iyanla Vanzant has significantly influenced the self-help realm with her impactful teachings on self-love, healing, and personal growth, delivered through her books, TV appearances, and workshops.
A: Born on September 13, 1953, in Brooklyn, New York, Iyanla Vanzant, originally Rhonda Eva Harris, had a tumultuous start in life, including an alcoholic mother and numerous personal challenges.
A: Iyanla Vanzant’s unique approach emphasizes self-awareness, the power of forgiveness, and personal accountability, blending spiritual concepts with practical strategies and introspection for overcoming life’s hurdles.
A: Integrating Iyanla Vanzant’s principles involves engaging in self-reflection, practicing forgiveness, and actively pursuing personal growth. Her literature and online materials offer insightful guidance and exercises for a journey towards self-improvement.
