Iyanla Vanzant is the founder and executive director of Inner Visions International and the Inner Visions Institute for Spiritual Development. She is the author of 13 titles—including five New York Times bestsellers—and the Inner Visions CD Series. Peace from Broken Pieces: How to Get Through What You’re Going Through has been published by SmileyBooks and available here. Iyanla is a Spiritual Technician. She is a Master Teacher. She is a woman of passion, clear vision and purpose, with a wicked sense of humor. Ordinary? Maybe. We think Dr. Maya Angelou's description is much more appropriate. Iyanla is, by many accounts, a Phenomenal Woman!I will know peace when . . .
I heal my need for external acceptance
and recognition.
There is a need that many people struggle with for a good portion of their lives. It is the need to receive or experience the acknowledgment and acceptance of others. Even when we are not aware that this is what we are doing, we equate these to things with being loved. To be loved is a basic human need. Beneath the need for acceptance and acknowledgment is the cry for self-love. Sometimes having someone else acknowledge you is far more satisfying than simply loving yourself. Perhaps it is because you really don't trust yourself or your own love. When you know in your heart of hearts that you are withholding love or forgiveness from someone else, your love will not be enough to satisfy you.
The principle at work in this experience is, "What you withhold from others will be withheld from you!" When you withhold your love from someone in response to their actions or, in retaliation for their actions, you are withholding acceptance. When you withhold acceptance, you will be driven to receive it.
Every living being, regardless of their actions deserves your love. Your love is an acknowledgment that regardless of their behavior, you recognize them to be a divine creation of God. The Spirit of life knows when you are withholding acceptance. It also knows that you can never experience what you will not offer. You will never experience the external acceptance you desire until you internally acknowledge your acceptance of another.
Until today, you may have been seeking the acceptance or acknowledgment that you have been withholding from someone else. Just for today, open your heart to someone you have shut out. It doesn't mean that they were right. It means that you are willing heal.
The principle at work in this experience is, "What you withhold from others will be withheld from you!" When you withhold your love from someone in response to their actions or, in retaliation for their actions, you are withholding acceptance. When you withhold acceptance, you will be driven to receive it.
Every living being, regardless of their actions deserves your love. Your love is an acknowledgment that regardless of their behavior, you recognize them to be a divine creation of God. The Spirit of life knows when you are withholding acceptance. It also knows that you can never experience what you will not offer. You will never experience the external acceptance you desire until you internally acknowledge your acceptance of another.
Until today, you may have been seeking the acceptance or acknowledgment that you have been withholding from someone else. Just for today, open your heart to someone you have shut out. It doesn't mean that they were right. It means that you are willing heal.
Today, I am devoted to opening my heart, to acknowledging and accepting that I have enough love for sustain myself and to offer to others!
From Until Today!
by Iyanla Vanzant
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