LESSONS FROM TWO OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN THE U.S.
Me at Barclay’s center - this was the closest I got to Oprah!
This past weekend, I was fortunate to spend Saturday at Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, NY with 15,000 other women and a few good men. We were there to participate in Oprah’s 2020 Vision Tour. What an incredibly inspiring day! If you have the opportunity to catch her on this tour, it is well worth it.
HIGHLIGHTS
In addition to Oprah, a highlight for me was the guest appearance by former First Lady, Michelle Obama. I recently read her memoir, Becoming, and could not wait to hear her in conversation with Oprah. I was NOT disappointed; these two women are incredible! If RBG showed up, it would have been the trifecta of influential, smart, powerful, women!
I also loved the opening act, Daybreaker. They had 15,000 of us up and out of our seats dancing at 10 AM! It was the perfect way to start the day with endorphins and positive emotions flowing throughout the arena.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
While there were many great takeaways from the day, the following are my top three:
Every adult has experienced some form of pain and suffering. Adversity is part of the human experience and helps to mold you into the person you are meant to be.
Stress results from wanting this moment to be something that it is not. When you can be fully present, and accept the moment for what it is, it creates a sense of ease. When you push against the current reality (what Oprah calls ‘the swirl’), it makes your life more stressful.
Everybody wants to be seen and heard. When you actively listen to another person, you can develop greater empathy towards them and understand their pain. We crave human connection and community.
QUOTES
My experience was amplified by attending with fellow graduates of the Master of Applied Positive Psychology program at the University of Pennsylvania. The day was filled with positive psychology concepts like self-efficacy, mindfulness, savoring, positive emotions, autonomy and resilience. Many thanks to Amanda Moffa, Katy Sine, Jenn Beatty, Laryssa Kundanmal, and Joan Mooney for allowing me to savor the experience by sharing their insights.
Our collective favorite quotes from the day:
“We all want the same thing - to live out the truest, highest expression of ourselves.” - Oprah Winfrey
“You can’t have it all…at once.” - Oprah Winfrey
“Be open to the entirety of life, the wholeness of that which our being human allows us to experience.” - Oprah Winfrey
“Staying present is the foundation of your spiritual practice. Spirituality is the essence of you. Honor it.” - Oprah Winfrey
“We gravitate to one another when we see the best and worst in ourselves.” - Michelle Obama
“I am responsible for my own happiness.” - Michelle Obama
“Forgiveness is giving up the hope that the past can be anything else other than what it is.” - Oprah Winfrey
“Walk your own walk.” - Michelle Obama
“There is no wellness without peace.”- Oprah Winfrey
“Whatever happened to you also happened for you.” - Oprah Winfrey
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
Oprah Winfrey had a traumatic childhood. You can read about it here. Her determination, perseverance, and faith helped her to become the role model, philanthropist, and influencer she is today. She shared with the audience that she had a complicated relationship with her mother who died in 2018. While many would place blame for a childhood of abuse and poverty on their absent parent, Oprah did not. She reconciled with her mother prior to her passing and let her know that while she was not the mother Oprah had wanted or hoped for, she was the mother she needed… to be the woman she became.
According to Oprah, “God gave me exactly what I needed to be me.”
Have you attended the Oprah 2020 Vision Tour? I’d love to hear your thoughts and insights!
