Unless you live in an exotic, remote village with no access to technology, then you know who she is. Her name is Oprah Winfrey, Some of us like her, while others loathe her. But Oprah knows something about empowering others, changing lives, and inspiring change. She started by changing her life. Today I am sharing a few powerful and inspiring life lessons from Oprah that have been a guiding light to me over the last few years.
A little Black girl from Mississippi. A true rags to riches story. Born into poverty to a teenage mother, molested, and became a mother at 14.
From her humble beginnings, she became one of the world’s most influential women and was once the only black Billionaire.
Here Are Eight Powerful and Inspiring Life Lessons I Have Learned From Oprah.
Reinvent Yourself As Many Times As You Need.
“With every experience, you alone are painting your own canvas, thought by thought, choice by choice.”
“Challenges are gifts that force us to search for a new center of gravity. Don’t fight them. Just find a new way to stand.”
“Improving your life doesn’t have to be about changing everything–it’s about making changes that count.”
Oprah Winfrey
Do Not React — Respond
“One of the hardest things in life to learn is which bridges to cross and which bridges to burn.”
“If there are a lot of negative people in your life, don’t look at them, look at the energy you are creating to attract them.”
“Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.”
“Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.”
Oprah Winfrey
There Are No Failure Only Lessons
“Wherever you are in your journey, I hope you, too, will keep encountering challenges. It is a blessing to be able to survive them, to be able to keep putting one foot in front of the other — to be in a position to make the climb up life’s mountain, knowing that the summit still lies ahead. And every experience is a valuable teacher.”
“So go ahead. Fall down. The world looks different from the ground.”
“Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another stepping stone to greatness.”
Oprah Winfrey
Love And Accept Yourself
“You look at yourself and you accept yourself for who you are, and once you accept yourself for who you are, you become a better person.”
“Look inward—the loving begins with you.”
“Create the highest, grandest vision possible for your life, because you become what you believe.”
“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.”
Oprah Winfrey
Take Responsibility For Yourself
“So long as you’re still worried about what others think of you, you are owned by them. Only when you require no approval from outside yourself can you own yourself.”
“The whole point of being alive is to evolve into the complete person you were intended to be.”
“You are where you are in life because of what you believe is possible for yourself.”
“When you undervalue what you do, the world will undervalue who you are.”
Oprah Winfrey
Occupy The Space You Were Born To Occupy And Use Your Voice.
“You get in life what you have the courage to ask for.”
Beginning when we are girls, most of us are taught to deflect praise. We apologize for our accomplishments. We try to level the field with our family and friends by downplaying our brilliance. We settle for the passenger’s seat when we long to drive. That’s why so many of us have been willing to hide our light as adults. Instead of being filled with all the passion and purpose that enable us to offer our best to the world, we empty ourselves in an effort to silence our critics.
“The truth is that the naysayers in your life can never be fully satisfied. Whether you hide or shine, they’ll always feel threatened because they don’t believe they are enough. So stop paying attention to them.”
“You can either waltz boldly onto the stage of life and live the way you know your spirit is nudging you to, or you can sit quietly by the wall, receding into the shadows of fear and self-doubt.”
Oprah Winfrey
Be Unapologetically And Authentically Yourself.
“I was once afraid of people saying, ‘Who does she think she is?’ Now I have the courage to stand and say, ‘This is who I am.”
“You are built not to shrink down to less but to blossom into more.”
“Only make decisions that support your self-image, self-esteem, and self-worth.”
Oprah Winfrey
Your Past Does Not Define You.
“What I know for sure is that speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we all have.”
“Turn your wounds into wisdom.”
“You don’t become what you want, you become what you believe.”
True forgiveness is when you can say, “Thank you for that experience.”
“It doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from. The ability to triumph begins with you – always.”
Oprah Winfrey
Comment below: what is your favorite quote by Oprah?