Updated by Rashmi Venkatesh on Jul 17, 2023

10 Amazing Oprah Life Lessons

A look at some of the Amazing Life Lessons from the Media Queen, Oprah Winfrey. A living legend who rose from poverty to become one of the most admired and influential woman in the world!

'Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.'

Do what you love and you will end up doing a better job at it. Discover your passion and dedicate your life into fulfilling that passion. There is no passion to be found in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living. Turn your dreams into a reality.

'Go ahead. Fall down. The world looks different from the ground.'

Oprah's advice for those afraid to fail: ‘Do the one thing you think you cannot do. Fail at it. Try again. Do better.’ Failure is the God's way of saying you are going in the wrong direction.

Consider failure as a new life lesson, a learning experience. Don't be afraid of it, embrace it.

'Turn your wounds into wisdom.'

Oprah’s past is full of struggle. She grew up poor, was sexually abused as a child, and had a son at the age of 14 who died in infancy. She credits these events for giving her more capacity to relate to the pain of others. As Oprah puts it: ‘Every single event in life happens is an opportunity to choose love over fear.’

Try to see the best in any situation. Learn from the bad experiences, learn from your mistakes- they are your greatest teachers.

'Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more.'

Recognize the good in your life and be grateful for it everyday. Become aware of what's wonderful in your life and be thankful for that. There are people in the world who are more than happy with less than what you have.

'What we dwell on is who we become.'

We are shaped by our thoughts. We must learn to master our thought process and learn to dwell on the positives rather than the negatives. Our life is the canvas and our thoughts are the paints. We should paint our canvas with bright and vibrant colors and not dark colors.

'Your gut is your inner compass.'

Oprah says “Your gut is your inner compass. Whenever you have to consult with other people for an answer, you’re headed in the wrong direction.”

Always trust our gut instincts. Intuition doesn't lie. It helps you take better and faster decisions.

'Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher.'

The more rich and successful you are, the more important it is for you to have true friends. Oprah knows this well: “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."

Choose your friends wisely. Your identity is affected by your peer group. You should be friends with people who lift you up, who will encourage you and who are positive influences in your life.

'You can have it all. Just not all at once.'

You cannot have it all, not at the same time. It is impractical to fulfill all your goals simultaneously or to satisfy all your desires at the same time. Stay patient and trust your journey.

'What God intended for you goes far beyond anything you can imagine.'

Oprah’s path that led from her grandmother’s farm in Mississippi to becoming the first African-American woman billionaire is a story of unwavering focus and the ability to think beyond her circumstances. When others may have been limited by a painful past, she chose to think big.

Have the best and become your very best, that is how your creator intended it to be. Find out what you love to do most, and do it. YOU will never happen again, make the most of it.

'The surest way to bring goodness to yourself is to make it your intention to do good for somebody else.'

Not only has Winfrey started her own charity (Oprah’s Angel Network), she’s also given more of her own money to philanthropic causes than any other performer in America (estimated at $303 million in 2007).

Create good karma. Do good and you will receive good. What goes around, definitely comes around.