Iyanla Vanzant
Renown author, television talk show host and life counselor, Rev. Dr. Iyanla Vanzant keynoted the fifth annual conference to promote civil behavior April 15.
WSSU’s Fifth Annual Civility conference is designed to promote participation in random acts of kindness and being responsible citizens.
“It is imperative that students not only be prepared academically but that students are prepared morally as tomorrow’s leaders,” said Dale Williams, WSSU Director of Student Activities. “This conference explores the benefits of civility and responsible citizenship and promoting an overall positive environment,” Williams noted.
Her message was powerful and moving. She said the conscious mind processes approximately 300 thoughts per second, while the subconscious mind processes approximately 330,000 thoughts per second. “Our subconscious thoughts control 90 percent of our lives,” she reasoned. “We have to control our minds.”
Women from WSSU staff served on panel during the conference.
She said anything can happen, so put energy into “being” and not just doing. Act on your vision, so that it is what you are remembered for. She cautioned though that there were four states of “being” to avoid. They are:
1) Don’t be a work-aholic: These individuals have no sense of “being” or identity, so they keep working. Know your vision and “what means most to you.” Your vision needs to take over your sub-conscious, so your vision runs your “being.” We have the “Power Of Choice”! Other people’s choices have no bearing on your choices.
2) Don’t be a neg-aholic: These individuals always have something to say about someone else. Putting out negativity comes back to you…you reap what you sow.
3) Don’t be a broke-aholic: Go out and seek success. God provides prosperity in abundance. Success is not determined by a check, it is about identifying your relationship with money. It does not come “to you”…it comes “through you”.
4) Don’t be a fear-aholic: These individuals are scared of everything. If you are within your integrity, you will not have fear. When what you think, feel, say, and do are all in line…you are within your integrity. When these things are not in line, you experience fear. There are various types of fear; fear of failure, fear of success, etc. These fears are also signs of procrastination. Anytime you give yourself an excuse, fear is present and there is a limiting factor or limited belief in yourself. These people are energy vampires, they suck the life out of you with their fears.
Vanzant provided her audience with three elements to live by. They were:
1) Commitment – give 100 percent of who you are to what you say you are.
2) Vision – see it for yourself.
3) Integrity – what you think, feel, say, and do are all in line.
Men from WSSU staff engage male students during panel discussion at the conference.
Vanzant travels globally to deliver her special brand of self-empowerment and inspiration to others. As Founder and Director of Inner Visions Institute of Spiritual Development, Vanzant shares her knowledge of Universal Principle and Law, Eastern and Western spiritual/religious traditions/teachings, and the truth of Unconditional Love to motivate others to create a better life, a better community and a better world.
