Reclaiming Inner Authority Through Spiritual Hygiene Practices

Key Quotes

"People are spiritually congested, spiritually constipated, spiritually contaminated because we have been so programmed, conditioned, taught now to do everything externally. Everything is external. We look out for everything. Even if you want to get some information from my dear friend Professor Google, you got to go out. You know, everything is out. And so we, we are spiritually congested. And, and again, some people contaminated, which means that we are not aware of, aligned with, using our innate power as divine and noble beings of the creator. We're codependent on something outside of us for everything."

Iyanla Vanzant explains that spiritual congestion and contamination stem from an over-reliance on external sources for information and validation. Vanzant argues that this external focus disconnects individuals from their innate power, leading to a state of codependency and a lack of alignment with their true selves. This external orientation, according to Vanzant, is a primary reason why people feel spiritually drained.

"Fear, the past, unforgiveness, unworthiness. For most people, we've acquiesced our throne to what I call in the book illegitimate rulers. You know, fear of failing, fear of not, not going to happen. And along with fear comes doubt. Unworthiness, I don't deserve it, I can't have it. Unforgiveness, whoa, Lord, unforgiveness. Those things sit on the throne because again, we haven't processed out, cleaned up the experiences attached to those emotions that give them permission to exist within us."

Vanzant identifies common "illegitimate rulers" that occupy the internal "throne" of individuals, preventing them from accessing their true power. These rulers, such as fear, unforgiveness, and unworthiness, are allowed to remain because past experiences and emotions associated with them have not been processed or cleared. Vanzant suggests that these unchecked emotions prevent individuals from experiencing their full potential.

"I think the step before we can be honest is to be aware. Some of us are not even aware of how crazy we are. And I don't mean crazy in a bad sense. I mean, you know, what our, what our habits are, what our behaviors are, what our quirks are. We have to become aware. And you know, how you become aware? The thing that scares the bejesus out of most people. Be still. Breathe. Just be still. Sit down, ask a simple question and wait for the answer to come forward."

Vanzant emphasizes that awareness is the crucial precursor to self-honesty, stating that many people are not even conscious of their own habits or behaviors. She proposes that the path to awareness involves stillness and introspection, suggesting that by being still and asking simple questions, individuals can begin to uncover the answers within themselves. This practice, according to Vanzant, is essential for understanding one's inner state.

"And that's why we have to do the hygiene because so many of us now have a false identity. We're living way beneath the truth of who we are. And again, we're codependent on external things that really don't reinforce the truth of who we are."

Vanzant asserts that the practice of spiritual hygiene is necessary because many individuals operate under a false identity, living far below their true potential. This false identity, Vanzant explains, is often reinforced by a codependency on external factors that do not align with one's authentic self. She argues that engaging in spiritual hygiene helps to dismantle this false identity and reconnect with one's inherent truth.

"Grief is celebration, grief as release. Grief is such a holy process. It's an initiation. It is a clearing. It is a gift because the one thing that grief does, whether you're grieving a thing or a person or a situation, it teaches you how to love differently. Grief does that. So we have to be willing because most of us run from grief. We don't want to feel it."

Vanzant reframes grief not as a negative experience, but as a sacred process of initiation, release, and a gift that teaches individuals how to love differently. She notes that most people avoid grief, confusing it with mourning, which carries heavier emotions. Vanzant encourages a willingness to engage with grief, viewing it as a natural and transformative part of life that ultimately leads to a deeper capacity for love.

"To live a good life, be clear about, aware of, diligent about the rulers of your internal throne. Always know who is ruling in the throne of your mind, at the altar of your heart, and in the temple of your spirit. To live a good life, make sure the right rulers are in place."

Vanzant concludes that living a good life requires conscious awareness and diligence regarding the internal "rulers" that govern one's mind, heart, and spirit. She stresses the importance of identifying and ensuring that the appropriate, positive influences are in control. Vanzant's final thought emphasizes that a good life is achieved by actively managing one's inner landscape and maintaining the right leadership within.