Starting Over Talk - Peer Coaching Support Site

That Iyanla incorporates humor into the "tough" exercises
is one of her greatest traits...but that intuition...can't be
beat. Been an admirer from the first time I saw her, quite
a few years ago. Have been "put out" with her a few times
...but usually end up saying "Ooooh!...that"s where you were
going with that...."

Don't know if the quote is from Iyanla Debby, but it sure is thought-provoking! Iyanla is the Goddess of One-Liners, profound ones and funny ones.

Iyanla seldom says anything that can't be found in a bunch of self-help books. But her DELIVERY is astounding because she knows what she is saying. On the page, it's just words. From the mouth of someone who knows it and means it - powerful! It impresses me all the more because she doesn't have to go to the top of a building or a mountain to do her shout-out to the universe. She can do it sitting in a chair and without even raising her voice. And that's the difference between mouthing the words and knowing what they mean.

Serena you are so right. Iyanla's words can be found in any of the self help books of the day....right back to the days of Melody Beattie. You are also right, that they ring true when she speaks them.

I have known people who toss around catch phrases, and nice warmth eliciting messages, and it has been clear to me that they are at the very least being patronizing.

Its strange, but this season I am far more drawn to Iyanla than before. I had sort of favoured Rhonda, but I find her a bit off her game this year. The hair on the backof my neck stands up at some of sneers I have seen, and some of the comments she has made. Oh well....she's human. *smile*

KNC wrote:

QUOTE:
Serena you are so right. Iyanla's words can be found in any of the self help books of the day....right back to the days of Melody Beattie. You are also right, that they ring true when she speaks them.

I have known people who toss around catch phrases, and nice warmth eliciting messages, and it has been clear to me that they are at the very least being patronizing.

Its strange, but this season I am far more drawn to Iyanla than before. I had sort of favoured Rhonda, but I find her a bit off her game this year. The hair on the backof my neck stands up at some of sneers I have seen, and some of the comments she has made. Oh well....she's human. *smile*

Boy, there's a name I haven't heard in a very long time! And you're absolutely right. People toss around catch phrases from that book like crazy, even though very few actually sat down and read it. These aphorisms pass into pop culture and then get re-interpreted all over the place. There was a period back around 1990(I think it was) when all the Twelve Steppers were quoting Beattie like she wrote the Big Book. I had a small business supplying the little Twelve Step shops - actually, selling stuff that had snappy catchphrases printed on it! Every time I would visit a shop, they'd have that book right in the front window.

Funny, I had just about forgotten all that. But that's when I really got a chance to see how this stuff gets picked up and slung around like everybody really got it. And HA! The old-timers would get reeeeallly pi**ed everytime somebody would use that word "codependent". OY - the debates raged on and on. It was all the buzz for a while. And now, it's a catchphrase. And people use it either to change their lives, or to justify doing whatever they really wanted to do in the first place.

But, you know - the business thing? That WAS its purpose. To put those words and phrases out there so we could learn them and remember them often and make them real. It was a great time.

Wow - sorry for rambling, KNC, but thanks for reminding me of all that. I'm smilin'

KNC i feel that same way about Iyanala this time around, not so much becasue of seeing anything different in Rhonda, but becasue Iyanla seems to feel genuine warmth toward some of the women. Some of it feels motherly, as with Antonia and sometimes even Jill. And she's just dang funny.