Iyanla Van Zant: ‘Dance in the Rain’

Several times Friday afternoon, Iyanla VanZant asked Success Women’s Conference attendees, “How bad do you want it?”

“Do you want it bad enough to confront your fear and challenge the limitations other people have placed on you?” asked the celebrated speaker, author, life coach and host of “Iyanla: Fix My Life” on OWN.

As a former welfare mother who has published six New York Times best-sellers, VanZant is dedicated to helping others on their spiritual journeys.

With characteristic candor and humor, VanZant told the audience to “learn to breathe,” stop comparing themselves to others and start telling the story where they’re a victor, not a victim.

“We are not being called to weather the storm,” she said. “We’re being called to dance in the rain.”

After earning a standing ovation, VanZant also answered several audience questions alongside conference co-director Kearn Cherry. In the Q & A session, she reinforced the idea that every experience, no mater how difficult, is purposeful.

“When you’re perfect, you’re dead,” she said. “So don’t wait until you think you are perfect before you go after what you want.”