Lessons from Oprah on living a more meaningful life
March 29, 2023
Practicing Gratitude
It is not just about being thankful during Thanksgiving dinner. Gratitude should be practiced daily because making space for what you already have opened the doors to a more fulfilled, happier existence while ensuring that the blessings keep flowing.
What you focus on expands; it's a universal rule. So, do yourself a favour and concentrate on the positive. What you're grateful for. This will promote happy sensations, which will build over time. When you appreciate what you already have, more of it comes your way. Contrarily, concentrating on what you lack will make you feel even more empty, and nobody wants to be in this position.
Exercise:
- Write down five things that you are grateful for. If you can’t think of anything, remember you are breathing, so write the word breathe five times if you have to.
- Doing this small practice and acknowledging the delights in your life will open the doors to an abundance of joy.
Forgiveness:
Is there someone you need to forgive? This is one of the grandest gifts you can give to yourself. You forgive them and relieve the burden that you have been carrying on your shoulders. Yes, it is painful; yes, it was wrong and in a way, am I saying that what happened was right? Instead, forgiveness is giving up hope that what could've, should've, and would've occurred would've happened. It's accepting the past for what it is.
You have to learn to sit with the hurt. Let it flow through you. You can step out of the hurt and history and into the present as you pave the future.
Here’s a formula you can use:
Accept what has happened + Accept the now + Give up the hope that the past could have been any different = Freedom to live the life for which you were intended and the one you actually deserve
Being kind to yourself
Your internal dialogue is so meaningful. You need to make sure you aren’t bullying yourself. How you talk to yourself and what you think about yourself builds your character and self-esteem. Don’t be so mean to yourself. Be still until you can hear and feel the answers that you need to move forward.
Live in the Present Moment
Anxiety comes when we live in unpredictable moments. Learn to stay focused on the now and not the days ahead. Learn to be comfortable with the unknown. Take a deep breath. Remind yourself I am here now, and right now, everything will be okay. All is well, and all will be well, and there is nothing that I cannot handle.
Be quiet enough to listen to your internal GPS and close out the world's noise. Listen to the inner whispers trying to be heard, and let that guide you.
The fear of uncertainty can stop us from taking a step towards a breakthrough. We cannot let uncertainty stop us. Remember your values, hard work, fortitude, and determination will have your back. They have been there for you in the past and now and will continue to be with you. Think about where you have come from and how far you have come. Why will anything ever stop you based on what you have overcome? You have everything you need inside your beautiful mind to overcome uncertainty. Anxiety is so silly. It creeps in from time to time to stop you. It's such a toxic pattern. We need to refresh our minds from time to time to keep what matters most, turn over what we are ready to let go of and make room for the new-all great things to come.
Moving forward.
I will ensure that I carefully choose what deserves to have my attention and what doesn’t. I won’t allow unnecessary things to crowd my mind and make me feel horrible at the end of the day. I will always be grateful for everything, and for days I can’t think of something, I will remember that we all survived a pandemic. That is incredible.
Ask yourself.
Do you want to figure out who you are meant to be? Ask yourself: how can I be used in service for the greater good? When you use your life to serve the world, you will realize it will help you. You are here to find your calling. When you honour your calling, you will notice that it feeds your soul positively.
Let Go.
Let go of the grudges, the past, and the resentment you keep rewinding to you. Doing so will never change what happened. It would be best if you rejected the urge to keep replaying and move forward with yourself. I’ll say again that you must give up the notion that the past may have been different. Also, let go of the idea that others should do what you would in a particular scenario, which leads to disappointment. Let people be who they are. Not doing so costs you time and energy. Often, the person on the other side of the bitterness you may be holding onto is probably not even thinking about you, and they have probably moved on. This negative spiral of thinking is only draining you. Think of it as letting go of any bad habit that no longer serves your well-being. Ask yourself, why am I holding onto this? How is this helping me? Think about the answer and sit with it. Then ask yourself, do you want to be correct, or do you want peace? CHOOSE peace. Remember, time is moving on. You may never get back the time you have lost.
Exhale.
Make room in your heart.
Surround yourself with people who want the best for you.
You have control.
Lighten your load.
LET IT GO!
Spotify Link: 20 Minutes for the NEXT 20 Years of Your LIFE | Oprah Winfrey