“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. Every time you suppress some part of yourself or allow others to play you small, you are ignoring the owner’s manual your Creator gave you. What I know for sure is this: You are built not to shrink down to less but to blossom into more. To be more splendid. To be more extraordinary. To use every moment to fill yourself up.”
―
Oprah Winfrey
“What I find powerful is a person with
the confidence to be her own self.”
―
Oprah Winfrey
“So go ahead. Fall down. The world looks different from the ground.”
―
Oprah Winfrey
“We should no longer allow a mother to be defined as "just a mom". It is on her back that great nations are built. We should no longer allow any woman's voice to be drowned out or disregarded. As we affirm other women, and as we teach our sons, husbands and friends to hold them in the highest regard, we honor both the mothers whose shoulders we've stood on and the daughters who will one day stand tall on ours.”
―
Oprah Winfrey
“The great courageous act that we must all do, is to have the courage to step out of our history and past so that we can live our dreams.”
―
Oprah Winfrey
“If you're going to binge, literature is definitely the way to do it.”
―
Oprah Winfrey
“Forgiveness is giving up the hope that the past could have been any different, it's accepting the past for what it was, and using this moment and this time to help yourself move forward.”
―
Oprah Winfrey
“Meditate. Breathe consciously. Listen. Pay attention. Treasure every moment. Make the connection.”
―
Oprah Winfrey
“I don't believe in failure. It's not failure if you enjoy the process.
―
Oprah Winfrey
“Can you see me? Can you hear me? Does anything I say mean anything to you?”
―
Oprah Winfrey
“Whenever I’m faced with a difficult decision, I ask myself: What would I do if I weren’t afraid of making a mistake, feeling rejected, looking foolish, or being alone? I know for sure that when you remove the fear, the answer you’ve been searching for comes into focus. And as you walk into what you fear, you should know for sure that your deepest struggle can, if you’re willing and open, produce your greatest strength.”
―
Oprah Winfrey
“Live with energy
"Energy is the essence of life. Every day you decide how you're going to use it by knowing what you want and what it takes to reach that goal, and by maintaining focus.”
―
Oprah Winfrey
“Only make decisions that support your self-image, self-esteem, and self-worth.”
―
Oprah Winfrey
“The roles we play in each other's lives are only as powerful as the trust and connection between us--the protection, safety, and caring we are willing to share.”
―
Oprah Winfrey
