Quote of the Day by Oprah Winfrey: 5 Quotes from 'Lady O' that will Rewire Your Brain for a Successful Life

Quote of the Day by Oprah Winfrey: With the everchanging face and pace of media, how many figures have actually been able to stand the test of time, having their legacy speak for them even as the world moves on at lightening fast speed? Oprah Winfrey for sure has. She grew up in poverty in rural Mississippi and went on to become one of the most successful talk show hosts and self-made women in the world. Winfrey's persona stands defined by resilience, emotional intelligence and an extraordinary ability to connect with people. Her message at the core of it, has always been empowerment. She has never shied away from being vulnerable whilst drawing strength from her present, teaching us one of many things - that we must own our story, fully. Born

on January 29, 1954, in United States' Kosciusko in Mississippi, Winfrey's childhood was one marked by poverty and adversity. Yet her talent for communication and storytelling is what eventually paved the way for a career in radio and television. This culminated in The Oprah Winfrey Show, which enjoyed a 25-year long run starting in 1986, essentially redefining what daytime television looked like back in the day. Emotionally honest conversations around self-help, trauma, literature and personal growth pushed women the world over to have these chats with themselves. Besides her media empire, Winfrey has also excelled in her philanthropic pursuits and advocacy geared towards uplifting marginalised voices. Across all that she has achieved, making people feel seen, heard and capable of more is potentially her biggest win.

Gratitude is Underrated

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough."Winfrey came from very little - unimaginable to most. Before she became the Oprah we know today, she was just a rural Mississippi girl, unsure of where life would take her - but gratitude was essentially part of her DNA. This was most telling in the compassion with which she would revisit her past, often painful, on her show. There was no bitterness, just acknowledgement.There's always something to be grateful for - a hot sip of coffee, a little morning walk, kind words. None of these things are life-changing in themselves. But, a consistent focus on what is right in your life - again, however miniscule - eventually builds up into your greater good. That's the formidable power of a positive mindset.

Excellence isn't Optional

"I've come to believe that each of us has a personal calling that's as unique as a fingerprint - and that the best way to succeed is to discover what you love and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service, working hard, and also allowing the energy of the universe to lead you."While Winfrey is a big believer in destiny, you don't have to be to apply this quote to your life. You don't have to believe your path is 'written' for you. But once you decide what it is, something you do need to do is commit to it, wholeheartedly. If destiny has indeed led you to your calling, the passion will come naturally. But if you choose your path, it is your duty to ensure you feel passionate enough about it to excel in it - so much so that it "feels like breathing," as per Winfrey. Half-heartedly committing yourself to something you don't believe is for you is a disservice to the world, and most importantly to yourself.

The Present is a Present

"Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure."Living in the future is good as long as you can manage to pull yourself back into the present. But for those who visit the future often, they have a tendency to find themselves permanently stuck there. This inadvertently leads to a disregard for the present. This quote from Winfrey rightly asks you to pivot yourself to the 'now'. If you focus on giving it your all in this very moment, and apply this logic to each moment thereafter, there's no way your future won't shape up the way you've been dreaming for it to - or even better!

There is No Success without Courage

"You get in life what you have the courage to ask for."If you don't ask, the answer is always no. And this is not necessarily asking a third person for a favour - although there's nothing wrong with that. It's about allowing your mind to push the boundaries for what you believe you deserve. If you don't even let yourself dream to a certain height, there's no way you'd actually end up achieving it. Allowing yourself to dream is always the first step.

The Magic of an Abundant Mindset

"Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another stepping stone to greatness."Being afraid of failure is a futile exercise. Even the most successful person in the world has been hit by it - and bad. Winfrey's logic here is simple - why fear something that is inevitable? She asks us to train our minds to redefine failure as not an unwanted destination, but a pitstop on the way to the real end of our journey - success. When you make that your stop, everything else becomes incidental.