--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everything you have done and been through…" description: "\"Everything you have done and been through is valuable and important. In order to be who you are, to know what you know, to be where you are in this mom..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18a/iyanla-vanzant-557_be-who-you-are_everything-you-have-done-and-been-throug_1828979.png" --- # Everything you have done and been through is valuable and… ![“Everything you have done and been through is valuable and important. In order to be who you are, to know what you know, to be where you are in this moment, you needed to go through what you went through.” quote by Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18a/iyanla-vanzant-557_be-who-you-are_everything-you-have-done-and-been-throug_1828979.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18a/iyanla-vanzant-557_be-who-you-are_everything-you-have-done-and-been-throug_1828979.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18a/iyanla-vanzant-557_be-who-you-are_everything-you-have-done-and-been-throug_1828979.png) > “Everything you have done and been through is valuable and important. In order to be who you are, to know what you know, to be where you are in this moment, you needed to go through what you went through.” [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Your past experiences shape your identity and knowledge; they are essential to who you are now. **In simple terms:** Your history matters. Key Takeaway Embrace past challenges as growth. Themes growth identity resilience Mood reflective empowering Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career transitions - therapy - coaching - relationship healing Key Concepts personal development narrative therapy meaning making Questions to Reflect On - What lessons have your hardships taught you? - How can you honor your past while moving forward? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on past pain can hinder present joy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Be who you are](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-who-you-are/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Know Moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-moment-417438/) [Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Life experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-experience/) [Moment Needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moment-needed-1101604/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needed/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Personality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personality/) [Speakers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speakers/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Valuable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/valuable/) [Valuable Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/valuable-important-2257490/) [Where you are](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/where-you-are/) [Who you are](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who-you-are/) ## Related quotes > [“Wisdom comes after the moment when it is most needed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-wheeler/wisdom-comes-after-the-moment-when-it-is-most-needed/) [Jeff Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-wheeler/) > [Just One more moment, that's all that's needed. Like wounded soldiers in need of healing. Time to be honest, this time I'm pleading Please…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angel-eyes/just-one-more-moment-that-s-all-that-s-needed-like-wounded-soldiers/) [Angel\_eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angel-eyes/) > [I spent time in refugee camps in Southeast Asia, and in the projects of Chicago. I've been to State dinners with Presidents. I met…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carole-radziwill/i-spent-time-in-refugee-camps-in-southeast-asia-and-in-the-projects/) [Carole Radziwill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carole-radziwill/) > [Never underestimate the valuable and important difference you make in every life you touch. For the impact you make today has a powerful rippling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-underestimate-the-valuable-and-important-difference-you-make-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You must not become a silly creature ... relying on other people to tell you what is valuable and what is not...the most important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-mutsuki-mockett/you-must-not-become-a-silly-creature-relying-on-other-people-to-tell/) [Marie Mutsuki Mockett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-mutsuki-mockett/) > [Simply be who you are, do what you do best, be where you are called by joy, and let life work its magic on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/simply-be-who-you-are-do-what-you-do-best-be-where-you-are-called-by/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [Many self-employed people provide services that are nonessential. So whether you get your hair done less or your hair cut less, or your nails…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/many-self-employed-people-provide-services-that-are-nonessential-so/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [Nothing destroys self-worth, self-acceptance and self-love faster than denying what you feel. Without feelings, you would not know where you are in life. Nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/nothing-destroys-self-worth-self-acceptance-and-self-love-faster-than/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [We are distracted from our greatness because are greatness is what scares us. Right where you are…God is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/we-are-distracted-from-our-greatness-because-are-greatness-is-what/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [Instead of running from what you don't want, walk with commitment toward what you desire. Focus on where you are going rather than being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/instead-of-running-from-what-you-don-t-want-walk-with-commitment/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [When you are not happy where you are, and you are not quite sure if you want to leave or how to leave, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/when-you-are-not-happy-where-you-are-and-you-are-not-quite-sure-if/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [The important thing is not to know more than all men, but to know more at each moment than any particular man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-important-thing-is-not-to-know-more-than-all-men-but-to-know-more/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [When you know even for a moment That it's your time Then you can walk with the power Of a thousand generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-cockburn/when-you-know-even-for-a-moment-that-it-s-your-time-then-you-can-walk/) [Bruce Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-cockburn/) > [No matter what you say you might do, you never really know until you're in the moment. Every situation is so different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-brooks/no-matter-what-you-say-you-might-do-you-never-really-know-until-you/) [Garth Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-brooks/) > [You think you know someone until that moment you don't. It's all a lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-think-you-know-someone-until-that-moment-you-don-t-it-s-all-a-lie/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Iyanla Vanzant > [For some reason,we keep forgetting some of our experience. We look back but don't bring the value forward. We bring the anger, the upset.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/for-some-reason-we-keep-forgetting-some-of-our-experience-we-look/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [All things are lessons that God would have us learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/all-things-are-lessons-that-god-would-have-us-learn/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [“Life would be so much easier if, when we hit a snag in a relationship, any relationship, we would stop, address it, and move…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/life-would-be-so-much-easier-if-when-we-hit-a-snag-in-a-relationship/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [How do you spell peace? P-R-A-Y-E-R! Anything you believe you need is available to you through prayer. We are not talking here about a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/how-do-you-spell-peace-p-r-a-y-e-r-anything-you-believe-you-need-is/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [We are distracted from our greatness because are greatness is what scares us. Right where you are…God is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/we-are-distracted-from-our-greatness-because-are-greatness-is-what/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [Some children do what they’re told to do; some children do what they’re told not to do; all children do what they’re parents have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/some-children-do-what-they-re-told-to-do-some-children-do-what-they/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [Life doesn't have to be hard, life is on your side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/life-doesn-t-have-to-be-hard-life-is-on-your-side/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [You can accept or reject the way you are treated by other people, but until you heal the wounds of your past, you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/you-can-accept-or-reject-the-way-you-are-treated-by-other-people-but/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [We must each learn to feel comfortable in our own uniqueness by rising above the fear of being wrong and the aversion to being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/we-must-each-learn-to-feel-comfortable-in-our-own-uniqueness-by/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [I am not seeking anything but service to my creator. I do not need a house, I do not need a car, I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/i-am-not-seeking-anything-but-service-to-my-creator-i-do-not-need-a/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [The remedy for life's broken pieces is not classes, workshops or books. Don't try to heal the broken pieces. Just forgive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/the-remedy-for-life-s-broken-pieces-is-not-classes-workshops-or-books/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [When someone entrusts their heart to you they are giving you a piece of their soul. You cannot treat the soul casually. You must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/when-someone-entrusts-their-heart-to-you-they-are-giving-you-a-piece/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [When you have something to do life will not allow you to ove foward until you do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/when-you-have-something-to-do-life-will-not-allow-you-to-ove-foward/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [Have you doubted your progress, regretted your choices, put yourself down? Remember that you are doing just fine. Remind yourself right now that no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/have-you-doubted-your-progress-regretted-your-choices-put-yourself/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [The only relationship we can have in this life is the relationship we have with ourselves. We cannot love anybody more than we love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/the-only-relationship-we-can-have-in-this-life-is-the-relationship-we/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) [Explore all 476 Iyanla Vanzant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) ## More Be who you are quotes > [Give yourself a chance to live because nobody will live it for you when you die](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/give-yourself-a-chance-to-live-because-nobody-will-live-it-for-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [BE WHO YOU ARE! Not what others want to see](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-who-you-are-not-what-others-want-to-see/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The soul knows everything. Be who you are and your life will transform forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/the-soul-knows-everything-be-who-you-are-and-your-life-will-transform/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Be who you wanna be, and not what others would love to see. Because there gonna find out sooner or later and sure enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mee/be-who-you-wanna-be-and-not-what-others-would-love-to-see-because/) [MEE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mee/) > [There is an unmistakable freedom that accompanies contentment: a freedom to be who you are, enjoy who you are, and live the life you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-becker/there-is-an-unmistakable-freedom-that-accompanies-contentment-a/) [Josh Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-becker/) > [Never bury something deep, baby. Takes twice as much courage to be who you are, say what you think, feel what you feel and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/never-bury-something-deep-baby-takes-twice-as-much-courage-to-be-who/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [Remember who you are. It's really okay to be who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-ricci/remember-who-you-are-it-s-really-okay-to-be-who-you-are/) [Christina Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-ricci/) > [When we close ourselves off, we're not just closing ourselves off to other people, we're closing ourselves off from ourselves and impeding ourselves. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-cuddy/when-we-close-ourselves-off-we-re-not-just-closing-ourselves-off-to/) [Amy Cuddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-cuddy/) > [Be weird. Be random. Be who you are. Because you never know who will love the person you hide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-weird-be-random-be-who-you-are-because-you-never-know-who-will/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You just gotta be who you are, and I think it's time to get rid of this whole National Basketball Association. Call it the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/you-just-gotta-be-who-you-are-and-i-think-it-s-time-to-get-rid-of/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Dont be embarrassed by who you are. Theyre going to judge you no matter what you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dont-be-embarrassed-by-who-you-are-theyre-going-to-judge-you-no/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Our Father in Heaven needs you to be who you are. ... You are very important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-g-larsen/our-father-in-heaven-needs-you-to-be-who-you-are-you-are-very/) [Sharon G. Larsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-g-larsen/) > [Never look down at yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-look-down-at-yourself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I define my roles as a woman, whether that means a mother at home, a CEO, both, neither or more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-thoughtful-beast/i-define-my-roles-as-a-woman-whether-that-means-a-mother-at-home-a/) [The Thoughtful Beast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-thoughtful-beast/) > [Simply be who you are, do what you do best, be where you are called by joy, and let life work its magic on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/simply-be-who-you-are-do-what-you-do-best-be-where-you-are-called-by/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) [Browse all 147 Be who you are quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-who-you-are/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Everything you have done and been through is valuable and important. 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