Why can't women get along? Because we're afraid. We're afraid to be vulnerable. We're afraid to be soft. We're afraid to be hurt. But most of all, we're afraid of our power. So we become controlling and aggressive and vicious.
Iyanla VanzantRead
Whether at work, at home or in public, we have been trained to believe that who we are at the core of our being is often unacceptable. As a result, we work diligently to live up to - and sometimes down to - what others have made us out to be, whether or not it is an accurate reflection of who we are.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the conflict between our true selves and the personas we adopt based on societal expectations.
Iyanla Vanzant's quote reflects on the pressures individuals face from society which can distort their self-perception. It suggests that people often mold themselves to fit external expectations, leading to a disconnection from their authentic identities. This struggle can result in living a life that is misaligned with one's true essence, highlighting the importance of self-acceptance and authenticity in a world filled with judgment.
Themes
Self-AcceptanceAuthenticityIdentitySocietyExpectations
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about embracing individuality.
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Your greatest adversary is also your greatest teacher. Like it or not, it is the job of certain people to bring out the worst in you. What they trigger is already in you. They are here to reveal the sore, tender wounded places in your heart and mind, and they are providing you with a wonderful and divine opportunity for healing.
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You have a right to say no. Most of us have very weak and flaccid 'no' muscles. We feel guilty for saying no. We get ostracized and challenged for saying no, so we forget it's our choice. Your 'no' muscle has to be built up to get to a place where you can say, 'I don't care if that's what you want. I don't want that. No.'
Iyanla VanzantRead
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