Women Wiser Than I: Oprah Winfrey

Letting go of the past to open yourself to the future

“Step out of the history that is holding you back. Step into the new story you are willing to create.” —Oprah Winfrey

This quote made me reflect on a few long-held false beliefs and old narratives that have held me back:

I’m not smart/talented/skilled/experienced/pretty/worthy enough for XYZ

If I can’t do it perfectly, I shouldn’t even try

People are not to be trusted

Holding on to past hurts will protect me from future ones

They’re all gonna laugh at me

Some people find comfort and familiarity in clinging to their trauma and victimhood. Maybe they feel protected by it, maybe they feel it defines them and they wouldn’t know who they are without it. I’ve done my fair share of pain wallowing, and all it’s done is hold me back. Anger, resentment, and indignation have kept me from creating a new story. Rehashing the past ad nauseum and replaying the same boring records keeps us stuck. Continuing to analyze all the why’s leaves us lacking the energy to explore the how’s—how can we move forward from the past; how can we create and step into a new story?

The past informs us; it doesn’t define us.

Think of the Monty Python parrot as your past and let it rest in peace

🎧 Listen

· Super Soul Special podcast In this episode, Oprah interviews another woman wiser than I, Dr. Maya Angelou. She shares wisdom on transformation and finding strength in adversity.

💭 Reflections / Journal Prompts

· What labels have you accepted without question?

· What part of your history are you ready to stop using as a reason to stay stuck?

· What fear has been making decisions for you lately? What might happen if you stopped letting it lead?

· What part of your identity feels like it was shaped by survival, not choice? Are you ready to rewrite that?

· What would it look like to step into the story you want to live, not the one you were handed?