Let The Healing Continue
Mandisa Vilakazi
What is your personal mission in life?
My personal mission in life is to help young women fulfill their dreams and be the ones to break the poverty cycle back at home. I want to empower young women and young men to not only think about studying hard and getting a good 9-5 job. But I want to instill the importance of entrepreneurship, working for yourself and creating job opportunities at the same time. This is the best kind of financial freedom.
What is the biggest challenge you have overcome?
The biggest challenge I had to overcome was I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety disorder in 2015. From then onward, my life took a nasty turn and started deteriorating slowly. I was in a bad space and I just didn’t know how to get out of the dark pit, and my anti-depressants, anxiety pills and sleeping pills seemed to not be working. 2017 was surprisingly very promising and I spent most of it actually happy... but that was short-lived. I spiraled down quickly and had my worst episode.
What helped you overcome this challenge?
One thing that really helped me overcome this challenge was Prayer. It was finding my hope in God again and finding my identity in Him. I realized that maybe everything I tried did not work out because I did not have him by my side. I was really intentional about getting to know God again and trusting Him with my life. His love for me really liberated me and made me do things that were out of my understanding, in the best way possible. I have never needed anti-depressants and anxiety pills since.
How do you define leadership?
I define leadership as being trustworthy and having trust in the people that you lead. It is acting on your words, and never breaking promises. Leadership is having the ability to inspire other people and showing them a different perspective to things and life. It is being focused and having a clear vision and direction.
What advice would you give to anyone ashamed to tell their story?
My advice to anyone ashamed to share their story is that sharing your story can seem difficult because of the shame and guilt you might carry. It will however, be so liberating to you, and more reassuring to the people with whom you will be sharing it. Sharing your story is good cleansing for your heart and spirit. It also brings comfort to a lot of people and even inspires other people to do the same. There is no reason to be afraid of sharing your story, you are not what you went through. You are stronger now, more powerful, smart and beautiful. Sharing your story just sets your free from allowing your past to keep you captive and afraid.
People can reach me: email: mandisavilakazi7@gmail.com
Facebook: mandy vilakazi
Instagram: sweetlifeliving_