Returning to the last Oprah Winfrey show again I was listening to her words and remembering the years I have watched her show every afternoon. Remembering how she progressed from a ‘talk show’ to a motivational…
“you can do better in your life” show.
And it was good.
On her last show she was reflecting on her thoughts and feelings and she said, “The show has taught me there is a common thread that runs though all of our pain and all of our suffering, and that is unworthiness. Not feeling worthy enough to own the life you were created for. Even people who believe they deserve to be happy and have nice things often don’t feel worthy once they have them. There is a difference, you know, between thinking you deserve to be happy and knowing you are worthy of happiness.”
Then she told the story of a lady she knew and had worked with for many years who couldn’t grasp her worth no matter how often she was told by others how special she was.
“What I got was we often block our own blessings because we don’t feel inherently good enough or smart enough or pretty enough or worthy enough.”
“The show has taught me you’re worthy because you are born and because you are here. Your being here, your being alive makes worthiness your birthright. You alone are enough.”
“I’ve talked to nearly 30,000 people on this show, and all 30,000 had one thing in common. They all wanted validation. If I could reach through this television and sit on your sofa or sit on a stool in your kitchen right now. I would tell you that every person you ever meet shares that common desire. They want to know:
Do you see me? Do you hear me? Does what I say mean anything to you?”
“Understanding that one principle, that everybody wants to be heard, has allowed me to hold the microphone for you all these years with the least amount of judgement. Now I can’t say I wasn’t judging some days. Some days, I had to judge just a little bit. But it’s helped me to stand and try to do that with an open mind and to do it with an open heart. It has worked for this platform, and I guarantee you it will work for yours. Try it with your children, your husband, your wife, your boss, your friends. Validate them. ‘I see you. I hear you. And what you say matters to me.”
I think this is something good for us to think about…
Who do you need to validate today?
Is it your children or your family?
Maybe perhaps even yourself?
I found it refreshing that in the midst of her wealth and fame and affluent lifestyle. She found a place within her heart and soul to reflect back and say to herself and to others.
“You matter in this world, don’t you ever forget that.”
