What I learnt from Oprah Winfrey's What I Know for Sure

How many of us can actually say at the end of the day, what exactly we are sure of!… The book opens with an anecdote that explains its title. Gene Siskel, a film critic, in an interview asked Oprah a profound question — “ What do you know for sure?” This question led Oprah to ponder about what she was sure about, leading her to write a column in each issue for 14 years in magazine O, the Oprah Magzine.

This book is a private book of revelation, a collection of short essays, a distillation of the column writings from the magazine — all to figure out about the things that matter in life, is organized around 8 different themes: Joy, Resilience, Connection, Gratitude, Possibility, Awe, Clarity, and Power, which are very crucial to become the best version of oneself, according to Winfrey.


These essays give a deep, scrupulous glimpse into Oprah’s mind, body and life, which inspires us to explore and become the best version of yourselves, by listening to your inner voice, addressing your needs and then putting others second which most of us fail to do, to accomplish the path of self-realization. It deals with fears, self-doubts, insecurities, the negativity that many of us have, using it as an anchor and guides us through to help grow our sense of self-awareness.


Her key message to her readers is to make them realize life is a spiritual journey filled with a lot of possibilities and miracles and we need to focus on self-love, instead of looking for love and validation externally and become a source of love and self-worth.


It is a candid, deeply moving, high spirited narration; with a sort of revelations of life and possibilities that the reader will turn to again and again.


I recommend that you enjoy this book with a steaming cup of chai (tea)in a cup, a snugly blanket wrapped around you (Oprah’s favourite, naturally). Finally and above all, Oprah knows for sure, it’s that a hot bath in a room lit with scented candles, is the solution for just about anything!

Here are some quotes the book which I really found thought-provoking — 

• There is one irrefutable law of the universe: We are each responsible for our own life. If you’re holding anyone else accountable for your happiness, you’re wasting your time. You must be fearless enough to give yourself the love you didn’t receive.
• Beginning when we are girls, most of us are taught to deflect praise. We apologize for our accomplishments. We try to level the field with our family and friends by downplaying our brilliance. We settle for the passenger’s seat when we long to drive. That’s why so many of us have been willing to hide our light as adults. Instead of being filled with all the passion and purpose that enable us to offer our best to the world, we empty ourselves in an effort to silence our critics. The truth is that the naysayers in your life can never be fully satisfied. Whether you hide or shine, they’ll always feel threatened because they don’t believe they are enough. So stop paying attention to them. Every time you suppress some part of yourself or allow others to play you small, you are ignoring the owner’s manual your Creator gave you. What I know for sure is this: You are built not to shrink down to less but to blossom into more. To be more splendid. To be more extraordinary. To use every moment to fill yourself up. 
• You can either waltz boldly onto the stage of life and live the way you know your spirit is nudging you to, or you can sit quietly by the wall, receding into the shadows of fear and self-doubt. 
• What I love most about reading: It gives you the ability to reach higher ground. And keep climbing. 
• Think back for a moment on your own history — not just where you were born or where you grew up, but the circumstances that contributed to your being right here, right now. What were the moments along the way that wounded or scared you? Chances are, you’ve had a few. But here’s what’s remarkable: You are still here, still standing. 

©Shweta, 2019 All rights reserved!

Originally published in Scribe