Oprah Winfrey: Passion, Purpose, Destiny to Teach - 1 of 2

Published: May 27, 2011

Would you disagree that media mogul Oprah Winfrey discovered her purpose? Oprah has expounded more than once that she is living her best life because she’s operating in what she was born to do. How about computer and software whiz Bill Gates, business magnate Donald Trump or broadcast journalist Larry King. These people absolutely thrive in what they do and you can clearly see how passionate they are about their vocations.

When you think of Oprah, can you envision her doing anything else? She’s said repeatedly on her show that she wanted to become a teacher. It turned out that she did become a teacher; her students were the millions of viewers who tuned into her daily program in a classroom that spanned hundreds of countries across the whole wide world. In her farewell speech which she termed “My Love Letter to You” (her viewers), Oprah said: “It is no coincidence that I always wanted to be a teacher and I ended up in the world's biggest classroom.” It would seem then that she was born into her vision, her profession, her passion, and her purpose … her destiny.

On the ABC talk show, The View (on Wednesday, May 25, 2011), co-executive producer and co-host Barbara Walters, known in many circles as a trailblazing journalist, shared with her viewers that she did not believe everyone had a calling. Barbara said that she does not have a calling; she just had to work hard because she had to support her family. She then showed a video clip of a 1988 interview she did with Oprah Winfrey in which Oprah discussed being called to the world stage. To further clarify, Lady O (as she’s affectionately known) said that she always knew that she was “born for greatness in my life … knew at four years old … always knew.”

On May 25, 2011, Oprah ended her long-running talk show—The Oprah Winfrey Show--after 25 years. Her last show was number 4,561, and she spoke about living a purposeful life. Here are some snippets:

• “Every day that I’ve stood here, I knew this is where I was supposed to be.”

• “And this is what I was called to do … we all are called.”

• “Everybody has a calling and your real job in life is to figure out what that is…”

• A calling “lights you up” and “sparks the light in you so that you…can illuminate the world."

• “Wherever you are, that is your platform…your circle of influence…your talk show, and that is where your power lies.

• “…whatever you're supposed to be doing, carry that forward and don't waste any more time.”

• “There are no coincidences…only divine order here.”

Oprah added this comment about her calling: “Mine aligned with my profession…my job.” We all have the ability to make our jobs align with our calling, once we've uncovered or unlocked our passion. if your job is your true calling, you will have discovered your purpose.

Oprah spoke about the best facial she'd ever received; it was given by Marcia Kilgore who owns Bliss Spa. She asked Marcia her secret; her response was, "I exfoliate … popping zits is my passion!" Your passion can be big, glamorous and on the world stage or it can be as small and icky as a zit.

What is most important is that it energizes you to the point where “You're letting your life speak for you. And when you do that, you will receive in direct proportion to how you give in whatever platform you have.” That is a direct quote from Oprah Gail Winfrey.