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Media mogul Oprah Winfrey wowed all present when she brought forth some really good words through a live event for Anastasia Soare’s “Raising Brows.” The one who was meant to be the highlight of the evening engaged the audience in a conversation about how one can change their fears and through one of the interactions it was found out that it was very strong and emotional.
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Winfrey almost took on a shepherd role on the Thursday event and as if Winfrey the audience was a flock of sheep. The very first thing done by her was to put a very straightforward question: what is your fear? The purpose of Winfrey inquiring was to enable the audience to turn those fears into “superpowers” not merely to expose them. The occurrence was a guest @redcarpetmogul who was so brave as to open up and he/she admitted that he/she has been struggling with the social stigma tied to being professionally successful unmarried and childless.
In that scene, Winfrey’s voice was heard saying that she is very much like a mother but also very direct and honest at the same time. She went right to the core of the problem by asking what was the reason that others’ unflattering opinions were so powerful. “The reason why that’s affecting you is because it’s there inside of you,” Winfrey said. She pointed out though that if a criticism hit the truth nowhere, it would just bounce off. The “discomfort” she spoke about was the sign from inside that one has to work on their self and thus their healing. The bottom line of her wisdom was her unambiguous command: “Fill your life with your dreams, not their expectations, not their dreams.”
The online responses were quick and mainly positive. Many interpreted the message as having come at the right spiritual time. One netizen even went so far as to celebrate the moment with exuberance, proclaiming, “Preachhhhh Evangelist Oprah Hallelujah Winfrey!!!!” This could well be the most eloquent expression of the feelings of many who thought the talk was really like a sermon that was so much needed. Another person, however, brought a humorous angle to the affected situation by saying, “I hear the organ!!!!!!! First Lady O said I HAVE TIME TODAY!” This smart remark highlighted the power and authority that Winfrey had in her lecture.
In the comments section, one very articulate user went on to explain the psychological mechanisms of the advice given by Winfrey. The user described the process as a kind of self-reflection and even referred to it as “archeologist for our own life.” They went on, “To feel some kinda way about what others think/say/expect is indeed a gift that leads us to our still unhealed wounds. To demand others change for us to feel at peace is to give up our power. We have to sort it out within!!” This comment was very much illustrative of the point that true liberation is to be found in internal transformation and not in external validation or change.
The subtext of recognizing one’s responsibility for one’s choices was very strong in the responses. One respondent underscored this view, saying, “And LET THEM TALK. We’ve got to learn to own the life we are choosing. It’s not going to always be easy, but you have to do what’s right for ‘you’.” This sentiment resonated with the core message of Winfrey about personal responsibility and genuineness. Another netizen shared an experience of his own that he felt was similar to the talk’s universality, saying, “I am a mother and I can still feel every word she says. Speak your truth, Oprah.” This brought out the fact that the wisdom was not limited to a particular situation but was rather a pointer to the universal aspect of the need of living authentically.
The message was not just uplifting but also emotionally freeing for some. A comment showed the deep personal impact, “This spoke to me so deeply and now I’m crying. Thank you ma’am for asking the question, and thank you Lady O for speaking life into not only her but so many others.” The raw emotion in this response pointed to the fact that Winfrey’s words had given the speaker the feeling of being validated and relieved. One more person, however, offered a very brief but very powerful summary of the conclusion of the talk, saying, “Your dreams & not their expectations!”
Feedback was mostly of the cheery kind but one comment did introduce a more complex viewpoint on the topic of family and career discussion. The user wished that the conversation had also recognized that wanting a family is just as valid as not wanting one. They said, “The only thing I wish was added to it is that she DOES want a family. And there’s nothing wrong with that either… I hate that society tries to make us choose between career or family when you can have BOTH.” This point added depth to the discussion, emphasizing that the
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This event reminded many of Gayle King‘s close friendship with Oprah. Winfrey’s approach to career setbacks often reflects the Johnny Appleseed rule her husband shared with her. Her wisdom has been shaped by influential figures like Maya Angelou, whose books profoundly impacted her. Winfrey continues her tradition of supporting authors, much like when she surprised Megha Majumdar with a book club selection.
