Customer Reviews

One Day My Soul Just Opened Up : Working Toward Spiritual Strength and Personal Growth

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Saw Iyanla on Oprah one afternoon. I am a 64 year old Jewishgrandmother. This woman's ability to connect with your innermostthoughts was awesome. Bought 2 of her books. Started the above. The idea that this divine woman of color whose life was so different from mine could strike a cord so deeply in me that I just danced around the kitchen in my bathrobe, painted my toenails, made a meatloaf, kissed my husband of 42 year on his nose numerous times bablling how much I loved him and that was on a day I was not taking Prozac. Geeez! Since then I read, hilite passages, keep the journals and have found the Divine who had been hiding from me for a while. I have watched her each time she is on TV and I am just enchanted with her abilities and especially that it is wrapped in humor. A soul is a gift to be polished in a timely manner so it can be returned to God in better condition than it was received. Lady, you gave me a cloth and a big bottle of Pledge and I am eternally grateful....and am getting really cute in my old age and am going out today to buy shoes! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!XXXXXX

Iyanly Vanzant's "One Day My Soul Just Opened Up" is a beautifully written testimony to spiritual strength and growth. The authors open heart shares that no matter what card you've been dealt, you don't have to play it. If you don't like where you are in your life you have to ask yourself why and be able to change it. We all have choices and must choose what makes us happy not what others think should. This is a true success, rags to riches story that is guaranteed to touch your heart and make you wake up and think "if she could make it, so can I."

Ms. Vanzant is not "gleaning ideas from many different religions which worship what the Bible refers to as "fasle gods" (this includes the worship of "self"), combining all the concepts she likes, and discarding the rest." When she says the worhship of self, she simply means to love yourself and view yourself as important. She is not meaning worship in the true literal sense of the word like worshipping God. This book is amazing like her others, and makes me feel better when I read it, like I am where I should be to learn and grow, even if I don't like the situation I am in.

I am a white, 60+ y.o. woman raised as a Roman Catholic who attended a Methodist High School - highest % of students at that time were Jewish, next Catholic, the rest of various protestant faiths except +- 2% non-traditional, agnostic, or atheist religious origin or philosophy. To graduate and affecting grade point average and therefore college acceptance was the requriement of all students to take 2 years of classes on the Old Testament and 2 years of the New Testament using bibles from our own churches/synagogues. These were discussion classes as well as reading study. I shall always be grateful for that exposure as it led to my interest in taking courses at the U of PA in Asian culture, philosophy and religions, and as an adult for my own growth to at times continue that multi-cultural reading to better understand and respect the world in which I live. That said I found this book helpful in rediscovering self and my personal belief system in a rich time of intercultural exchange. I feel it is important to state here that the 3 one star ratings are from the same person, same date, same email. Unfortunately Amazon's "report" function merely allows just that. A click on report with no opportunity to explain an error in the Amazon system that would allow a triplicate (or more) posting to influence an overall rating - or the intent of an individual to sabotage ratings. I am hoping that at the least this can alert potential readers of the skewed rating of this book, and to look for similar attempts to sabotage or in any way discredit other books, therefore, beliefs and cultures.

I reviewed this book once before, but apparently didn't describe the book as much as how it affected my life. This book is a day and evening journal to help you honor you and life. It consists of 40 days and 40 night of spiritual stength and personal growth. Iyanla gives morning affirmations about the subject she chooses for that day, and a way to remember them throughout the day. She then gives an evening journel to help you jot down your reactions during the day to the information you received in the morning, did the message influence your day and did you act upon the affirmations. It helps to keep a person on track of the important aspects of their life and days. It's a wonderful book and recommended reading for everyone who wants peace in their life.

This is one of those rare books that truly helped me identify all of the key areas that I needed to work on in order to grow toward a really fulfilling, joyful and spiritual life in all of my relationships. She has a real gift in clearly pointing out how to address all of these specific areas with great examples too. It was especially helpful with key areas where I was struggling for better balance. Most important benefit was enhancing my spiritual life, helping me to clearly understand my purpose in life and what to focus on to stay on the path. I highly recommend this book, especially for women who are juggling so many facets in their lives and looking for a more fulfilling and meaningful life!

This book is a wonderful enlightenment and contains the information to allow the recipient to live in harmony with all kinds of other people. After reading this book, I was able to feel positive about any and all situations that might arise in my daily life no matter how bad or how good. Even the most negative people can be defused easily and are not allowed to circulate in my world. I have recommended this book to several of my friends and relatives and they have all thanked me for this wonderful addition to their lives. Teenagers can even benefit from the wisdom contained in this book. Thank you, Ilanya, for your contribution to the human condition.

Iyanla has written many books about spiritual and personal growth, and I have just about all of them. This one really touched me, because I could relate to it. It gives you motivation to change, encouragement to move up higher.

This a good kick start (or re-start in my case) to exploring your spirituality. Iyanla is an amazing writer and her down to earth style is the most appealing feature of her writing style. Kudos!

I did NOT hear the abridged version - I got the 3-CD set and play it in my car. Everytime I listen, I gain something new from it. Ms. Vanzant is soothing, spiritual, and streetwise earthy all at the same time. A woman I would be proud to call a friend...or in this case, a teacher. Thank you, Ms. Vanzant, for getting me through a painful, painful time and helping me be better on the other side. Thank you for sharing your gift and inspiring me to share mine.