“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.”
― Oprah Winfrey
Few people can manage to withstand oppression and snap back when needed. Those few people either become mere survivors to their trauma or emerge stronger because of those challenges. Oprah is part of the chosen few who come in the second category.
All of us love a good rags-to-riches story. At times, we idolize such glorified versions of victory. But the story of Oprah Winfrey is unlike any other. The story of the famous talk show host, actress and entrepreneur (now considered one of the richest and most influential women in the United States) is something that can move you to tears.
Born on 29 January, 1954, Kosciusko, Mississippi, USA, Oprah had a rough upbringing. As a child, Oprah couldn’t afford proper clothing. So, she had to sate her daily needs by wearing potato sacks. Being the only child to a single mother, Oprah never had a chance for normal life. She was shuffled between family members, spending her initial years with her grandmother’s farm in rural Mississippi while her unwed teenage mom looked for work.
After her grandmother’s death, 6-year-old Winfrey had to live with her mother in a boarding house. She was 9 years –old when she was raped by her 19-year-old cousin.
At 14, Oprah called the consistent physical and sexual abuse quit and went to live with her father. Things eventually got better and at the age of 20 Oprah became the first black female news anchor in Nashville.
However, it was in 1986 when she decided to open Harpo Productions and negotiated ownership of the “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” which became so popular that it brought in huge revenue of $300 million per year. She later produced popular spinoff shows, including “Dr. Phil” and “Rachael Ray.”
Today, the 67-years-old business mogul is considered a living legend with a net worth of $3 billion. She is also considered as the only black woman on the publication’s list of the 400 richest people in America.
The journey that Oprah went through is no doubt strenuous. But it is also a testament to strong will and determination. Her success story has presented us with innumerous lessons that everyone must follow.
Table of Contents
Eminent Astro Strategist Hirav Shah brings you 3 valuable life lessons to learn from legendary Oprah Winfrey:
Your past doesn’t matter:
Oprah’s success is a stark contrast to her distraught upbringing. Born to an unwed teenage mother, Oprah was a victim of mental, physical and sexual abuse. However, she didn’t let the trauma deter her success. She didn’t let her past define who she was as a person. Instead of basing her identity on the previous life of poverty and abuse, Oprah made her current situation work in her favor. I think this is something to marvel at.
Education matters:
Growing up, Oprah hardly had any parental figure to look up to. But if there is a tunnel, there must be light at the end of it. Oprah realized the importance of education and decided to change her fate for the better. With her father’s support Oprah joined the East Nashville High School, where she became an honor roll student and was voted the most popular girl in her class. From a misguided teen to a student with full scholarship to Tennessee State University, Oprah managed to change her destiny. And it was all thanks to good education.
Be kinder to yourself:
Oprah has once said, “Are you ready to stop colluding with a culture that makes so many of us feel physically inadequate? Say goodbye to your inner critic, and take this pledge to be kinder to yourself and others”. I believe its one of the best advice to give to the young generation.
We are so invested in what is appropriate according to society that we forget to stay true to ourselves. Being a black student in the 1970’s, Oprah had to face a lot of discrimination. In a world that worshipped thin and white, she was a castaway. However she remained true to her identity and made herself known as a strong, independent black woman with confidence.
Success is feeble and it doesn’t come to everyone. Only a chosen few, who have the grit and determination to answer their higher calling, succeed in their lives. Oprah was one of them. She is a prime inspiration to people who have suffered in their lives and yet dream to overcome their past to become a better person- concludes business development strategist Hirav Shah.
